Rollout complete for Atlantis/STS-125 – arrives at repaired 39A

by Chris Bergin

STS-125 moved another step closer to launch, following Atlantis’ arrival at Pad 39A – a pad that has undergone extensive repairs over the past couple of months.

Following the flame trench wall collapse during STS-124’s launch, engineers have completed repairs to both walls, and certified the pad via flight rationale to host STS-125’s launch – which has been changed to NET (No Earlier Than) October 10, at 12:23am.

**The most comprehensive collection of Shuttle, Ares, Orion and ISS related presentations and mission documentation, plus expansive daily processing documentation and updates are available to download on L2 **

**Click here for sample of L2 menu and content**

**STS-125/LON-400 L2 Sub Section Special already over 2000mb in size – special section Now Live, with over 40 superb mission presentations. STS-125 Flight Plan (newly created) and Flight Data Files now uploaded. Mission Overview in CGI videos building up – starting with payload overviews. STS-400 Flight Plan. STS-400 EVA and mission overview Presentations (14). Daily extensive processing latest. Flight Rules, EVA, Pad and Launch Radar Presentations – plus several Aug 28 presentations added.

**L2 STS-126 in build-up – includes several mission baseline presentations. One Stop SARJ Shop (memo, presentations). Extensive daily processing reports etc.**

**STS-124 Post Flight – STS-119 Processing Latest** — **STS-124/STS-119 News Articles**

**LIVE updates: Endeavour Dual LON and STS-126 Processing**

**LIVE updates on Atlantis STS-125 Processing Flow** — **STS-125 News Articles**

STS-125 Latest:

Atlantis received the green light to leave the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) following a 7am meeting to discuss the threats of two major storms that have the potential of passing close by the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). First motion was timed at 9:19 am local time.

Tropical Storm Hanna is currently forecast to pass well clear of the space coast, though there is some uncertainty regarding Hurricane Ike – which is racing towards the eastern seaboard.

Only a few issues are being listed with Atlantis – all minor – as she undergoes Launch Pad Validation (S0009) operations at 39A.

‘(LO2 Helium Pre-Press QD leak) update: PD9 QD R&R is complete; leak check will be worked at the Pad,’ noted Thursday morning processing information. ‘(LH2 Recirc Pump 3 showed an ON command and the command is actually OFF) update: Replaced a card and is awaiting vehicle power up for retest.’

No issues are being reported with Atlantis, or Endeavour – as the Launch On Need (LON) STS-400 contingency shuttle – that threaten using up any of the remaining contingency days in the flow.

The launch date was likely to slip by a few days, which has now become official, with October 10 now the new target for STS-125’s lift-off.

Pad 39A’s repaired flame trench:

During Discovery’s May 31 lift-off, the east wall of Pad 39A’s north (SRB) flame trench suffered significant damage. A large section of the wall, approximately 18 feet high by 73.3 feet in length, liberated refractory bricks.

These bricks were scattered from the flame trench out to beyond the pad perimeter fence. Some were also seen rising from the pad into the air via an Infrared Imaging camera – although none of the debris threatened the vehicle.

Historical records were complied to show that debris from the flame trench is not a new event – with no debris hitting the vehicle reported on any of the associated launches.

‘Relevant findings summarized: STS-124 flame trench debris observed travelling away from SSV (Space Shuttle Vehicle). STS-120 Fondu Fyre liberated (north to fence and northeast of apron). STS-112 flame trench deflector erosion,’ noted a presentation.

‘STS-104 flame deflector sides missing acreage 3’x3’x2” East & 2’x6”x6” West. STS-99 reported note: debris emanating from the flame trenches, such as brick and mortar, are commonly transported by the exhaust plumes to outlying acreage areas of the pad without incident to the vehicle.

‘STS-83 SRB flame deflector 2’x8” firewall material missing from SRB deflector. Firewall material reported found on MLP 0-level. STS-71 flame trench brick 7”x2”x0.5” ejected out of SRB exhaust hole. STS-30 SRB flame deflector missing acreage 3’x1’. Other instances of Fondu Fyre found on west pad surface near side deflector.

‘The risk assessment, which applies to both Pads 39A and 39B, suggest that catastrophic damage to SSV (Space Shuttle Vehicle) is unlikely due to flame trench debris impact. The accepted risk posture for flame trench debris remains unchanged from previous flights with expected Lift-off debris risk classified as infrequent catastrophic.’

The root cause of the refractory brick liberation was determined to be operational degradation with no service life for the trench wall system established.

‘The lack of established service life is in part due to inadequate or non-existent definition of Shuttle flame trench design requirements for the flame trench wall and no requirements having been defined for the maintenance of the wall for Saturn or Shuttle,’ noted a closure document on the event.

The flame trench walls underwent repairs to protect the underlying pad concrete structure from the plume environment and to preclude large losses of refractory bricks or Fondu Fyre.

These repairs included replacing the area where refractory brick was lost on STS-124, with Fondu Fyre and securing control joints that fail tap tests with anchor plates.

‘Anchored and reinforced steel grid imbedded within 6” deep refractory cement. 5′ x 6’ panels formed and poured with interlocking tongue and groove keyway to mitigate hot gas intrusion. 16 anchors/stand-offs per panel (18” on centers) for structural integrity to the back wall.

’14-gauge steel mesh welded to standoffs and anchor assemblies utilized within the refractory to minimize flexure.

‘The Pad 39A flame trench repair has been completed such that large losses of refractory bricks or Fondu Fyre will be precluded and hence remain classified as unexpected debris above the MLP (Mobile Launch Platform) deck.’

The repairs to the flame trench walls were completed in good time ahead of Atlantis’ original rollout date last month – and subsequently certified by the shuttle program as acceptable to host STS-125’s launch.

‘Complete repair, inspection, and certification of design of the Pad 39 A Flame Trench: Induced environments provided by Loads Panel. Design scope has mitigated two most probable failure scenarios,’ added closure certification.

‘Based on observations during demolition the addition of the steel anchors and plates reduce the risk of brick liberation along suspect control joint areas. Based on the new design and repairs KSC believes that liberation of additional brick is ‘unlikely’ as defined per SSP Risk Matrix.’

Also backing up the safety element of the repaired pad will be several new sensors – embedded into the flame trench – to record data of the environments in the trench during launch. More sensors will be added ahead of STS-119 early next year.

Additional infrared cameras will also be added – including ‘cooled’ cameras that will be able to catch any liberations for longer, without suffering ‘white out’ shortly after the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) ignite.

An article will follow in the coming days outlining these additions.

L2 Members: Refer to TAG keywords ‘STS-125’, ‘Trench’ – for related L2 Presentations.

L2 members: All documentation – from which the above article has quoted snippets – is available in full in the related L2 sections, updated live.

Click here for a range of superb STS mission specific music videos created by Max Q videos 

Related Articles