Posts Tagged ‘TPS’
SLS Program pressing forward with engine heat shield design change
The Space Launch System (SLS) heat shields around its RS-25 engines will not follow the heritage of the Space Shuttle Program (SSP), following a decision to move away…
Orion’s development achieving numerous successes and firsts
This year is already marking a significant ramp up in achievements for the Orion Program, as several test articles are put through their paces – ranging from testing…
NASA reviews TPS nose cap damage to STS-135/Atlantis
With the Space Shuttle Program now officially a part of NASA’s past, the agency is continuing the process of getting Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour ready for their display…
STS-135: Atlantis cleared to head home one final time on Thursday
Following the expected clearance of the Thermal Protection System (TPS) – which was re-checked during Late Inspections, along with the successful checkouts of the systems the orbiter will…
STS-135: GPC-4 issue awakens crew – TPS clearance overview
A master alarm onboard Atlantis woke the crew from their sleep, after a General Purpose Computer (GPC-4) suffered a problem. The issue follows the failure – and subsequent…
STS-135: Atlantis docks with the ISS – WLEIDS review on RCC panels
Atlantis has docked to the International Space Station (ISS) – one final time – following an emotional R-Bar Pitch Maneuver (RPM) and text book approach to the orbital…
Endeavour preparing for the trip home – TPS clearance overview
After nearly 12 days of docked operations with Space Station Alpha, the Space Shuttle Endeavour, NASA youngest Shuttle orbiter, departed the international outpost to begin her final journey…
STS-134: Endeavour completes Docked Late Inspections for OBSS handover
As the historic milestones continue to come thick and fast, Endeavour was put through her final inspections via the Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS), ahead of presenting it…
STS-134: Mammouth EVA-2 completed – Endeavour TPS clearance overview
Endeavour’s flight crew have completed the second of four planned EVAs/spacewalks - focusing on port SARJ and Dextre lubrication and ammonia coolant line and tank work - lasting an epic eight…
STS-134: Focused Inspection clears TPS – Pope blesses the crews
Following the decision made by the Mission Management Team (MMT) to press ahead with a Focused Inspection (FI) on one area of Thermal Protection System (TPS) damage located…
STS-134: EVA-1 complete – Focused Inspection confirmed on TPS damage
Endeavour’s flight crew have completed the mission’s first EVA, focusing on MISSE experiment swap outs and ammonia jumper line installations. Meanwhile, engineers on the ground poured over imagery data…
STS-134: NASA managers reviewing Endeavour’s TPS dings
The STS-134 crew have completed the installation of ExPRESS Logistics Carrier -3 (ELC-3) to round up a busy Flight Day 3, which opened the docked phase of the…
STS-133: Pristine Discovery enjoying her docked mission swansong
The Damage Assessment Team (DAT) confirmed Discovery’s clean ascent into space by clearing the orbiter from a Focused Inspection, as STS-133′s mission continues to proceed flawlessly. With a…
STS-133: Healthy Discovery completes FD2 inspections on RCC panels
Now safely on orbit, Discovery has completed inspections on her Reinforced Carbon Carbon (RCC) panels – the main task of STS-133′s Flight Day 2 (FD 2). Only two…
STS-133: Plan under development to repair ET-137 foam cracks at the pad
As access platforms are set up for engineers to begin the removal of the hardware associated with the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP), a large effort to build…
Plan created to inspect Atlantis’ WLE Spars, required for additional flight
With Atlantis now over one month into her processing flow for the Launch On Need (LON) STS-335 rescue flight for the STS-134 mission, NASA and Shuttle managers have…
STS-132: Atlantis arrives home to KSC – FCS debris events noted
Shuttle Atlantis has managed to dodge unacceptable weather at her home port of the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on Wednesday, taking the first of the two Florida landing…
STS-132: DAT Clear Atlantis’ Thermal Protection System for Landing
As Atlantis’ crew complete final checkouts for entry and arrival back home at the Kennedy Space Center, the Damage Assessment Team (DAT) have successfully concluded their thorough review of…
STS-132: Extensive evaluations allow for nominal Late Inspection plan
The Damage Assessment Team (DAT) arm of the Mission Management Team (MMT) are no strangers to high praise for their work in ensuring an orbiter is safe to…
STS-132: Russia’s MRM-1 installed – Port Wing clearance boost
Russia’s Mini Research Module-1 (MRM-1) “Rassvet” has been successfully docked and installed on to the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS). Meanwhile, the Mission Management Team…
