The STS-129 ascent/entry flight control team and flight crew concluded the fourth and final integrated ascent simulation at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) on Tuesday. NASASpaceflight.com’s Philip Sloss was given a unique insight by observing the sim runs conducted by Flight Director Bryan Lunney and his team.
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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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When STS-129 launches next week, Atlantis will have one eye on the future, as she carries the CRS UHF Communication Unit (CUCU), a key element for the upcoming demonstration of SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, ahead of its debut arrival at the International Space Station (ISS) in 2010.
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As Atlantis’ launch date nears, engineers, Space Shuttle Program managers, and Agency personnel are continuing their analysis of the Main Engine Ignition acoustic environment on the Stinger pods of orbiter Atlantis – an analysis they are able to devote a great deal of time to thanks to an issue-free pad flow and excellent prior mission [...]
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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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With less than two weeks to go before the scheduled launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station (ISS), technicians at Launch Pad 39-A have begun installing the STS-129 payload into Atlantis’ Payload Bay. Meanwhile, overall preparations for Atlantis’ launch continue on track – with no major pad processing issues of note.
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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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With Space Shuttle Atlantis now officially targeting a launch on November 16, Space Shuttle Program (SSP) managers have – via Flight Readiness Review (FRR) documentation – reviewed and approved all flight plans and mission operations that will be undertaken during Atlantis’ 12-day flight to the International Space Station (ISS).
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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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Last week’s Space Shuttle Program (SSP) Flight Readiness Review (FRR) has approved the installation of a special minicam pointing out of window 4 on Atlantis’ flight deck. The camera will film the forward portion of the External Tank (ET) during flight, in order to capture the behavior of the LO2 Ice Frost Ramps (IFRs) during [...]
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Space Shuttle Program (SSP) manager John Shannon expects STS-129 to enjoy a three day launch window, as Atlantis finds some elbow room between two satellite launches from the Cape. Meanwhile, as Endeavour receives her three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) ahead of the 2010-opening STS-130 flight, her External Tank (ET-134) has arrived at the Kennedy [...]
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As engineers continue to prepare Shuttle Atlantis for her NET (No Earlier Than) November 16 launch, negotiations to secure a longer launch window for STS-129 (the launch window is currently one day long) are underway between NASA and the Department of Defense. Meanwhile, the SSP Flight Readiness Reviews (FRRs) has concluded with a recommendation to [...]
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Atlantis has been reduced to just one launch attempt – on November 16 – after STS-129 lost the battle for the Eastern Range to two satellite launches from Cape Canaveral. A second launch attempt on November 17 is being negotiated, prior to standing down for a Delta IV launch. The previous opening launch attempt on [...]
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Atlantis is enjoying a relatively smooth pad flow, with only three issues being worked, as engineers prepare the shuttle for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) next week. Flight rationale has also been produced for Atlantis’ SSMEs (Space Shuttle Main Engines), following small leaks on both Endeavour and Discovery engine nozzles during the previous two [...]
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From an official standpoint, STS-129 is continuing to target a November 12, though Shuttle manager John Shannon noted on Thursday that Atlantis will likely aim for a window between November 17-19 – due to an Eastern Range conflict with an Atlas V launch. Meanwhile, engineers are evaluating the shuttle and pad’s electrical systems, following “multiple [...]
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The STS-129 stack has completed rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Pad 39A Wednesday, ahead of the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) season – which begins with the MOD FRR on Thursday – that will clear the vehicle to launch on November 12. The STS-128 In Flight Anomaly (IFA) review will make up a [...]
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Atlantis is preparing to mate with her External Tank (ET-133) and twin Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs), following rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, engineers are finaling plans to protect the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) nozzles at the pad, following leaks on the last two missions, and an observation of [...]
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STS-129 is pressing ahead with the next processing milestone, with Atlantis preparing to roll over from her Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF-1) for the short journey to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the shipping dates have been set for the next two External Tanks (ETs) – both scheduled to arrive at the Kennedy Space [...]
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Atlantis is in the final stages of processing inside her Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF), ahead of a targeted rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on October 6. One item remains under evaluation, specifically a fleet-wide issue with actuators on the Fill And Drain Valves. A problem with an actuator on Atlantis was found after [...]
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