STS-119

[Orbinaut Pete]

Man, I would love to work at the KSC, and be around the shuttle's on a daily basis..

Very cool

 

[Harmsway]

[FONT=&quot]Launch is currently scheduled for February 12th at 7:32a.m.[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Mission may be delayed due to urine separator problem on ISS.[/FONT]

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

7.32am EST to GMT/UTC:

12.32pm Thu Feb 12


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--STS-119 UPDATE--

The S6 Truss is now in the PCR at LC-39A

Discovery is now mated to the ET-127 stack in HB3 of the VAB. Discovery will rollout to LC-39A tomorrow (Wed 14th)


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S6 in the PCR:

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Discovery set to roll to LC-39A at 9.00am GMT today.

 

[DaveS]

Rollout is now underway. First motion was recorded at 5:17 am EST.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

NOTE: NASA TV is currently carrying this live

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The Crawler has now made it's final turn to LC-39A.

The S6 Truss will be loaded into Discovery on Saturday.

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Crawler now levelling on ramp leading to LC-39A

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DISCOVERY NOW ARRIVED AT PAD 39A!!!:speakcool::speakcool:

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Discovery is now hard-down at LC-39A.

The Crawler transporter has been removed from underneath the MLP.

The RSS has been swung into position to begin payload loading operations


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NOTE: For hi-res, go to: http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=88

 

[Zoe]

STS-119 Press Kit is now available at
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/304681main_STS-119_Press_Kit.pdf

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

STS-119 status update

The S6 truss is now in the payload bay of Shuttle Discovery & the payload bay doors are closed.

The TCDT (Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test) is now complete, & the astronauts have returned to Houston. During the TCDT, the STS-119 astronauts completed a full dress rehearsal for launch at the KSC, & practised approaches in the STA (Shuttle Training Aircraft).

The FRR (Flight Readiness Review) is now complete. No major issues were noted. Another FRR is scheduled for 2nd Feb.

Discovery's 3 FCV's (Fuel Control Valve's) are still on schedule to be replaced.

The ISS program is considering flying a replacement UPA (Urine Processor Assembly), to replace the faulty UPA already on the ISS (delivered on STS-126).

Launch still on track for Feb 12 @ 12.32am GMT.

At time of posting (Jan 23 @ 12.25pm), time to launch is 20d 17m:speakcool:

 

[Zoe]

Launch still on track for Feb 12 @ 12.32am GMT.

The launch is planned for 12:32 PM GMT not AM.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

The launch is planned for 12:32 PM GMT not AM.

I see you're right, sorry folks

 

[Matte]

i've always asked myself what is that square panel on the side of the back part of the shuttle, just below the white pod of OMS.

 

[tblaxland]

i've always asked myself what is that square panel on the side of the back part of the shuttle, just below the white pod of OMS.

Got a picture for us? I'm not quite sure where you are talking about.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Are you referring to this?

 

[tblaxland]

Are you referring to this?

T-0 umbilical panel.

 

[Matte]

yes exactly, i was referring to that. what is it? T-0 umbilical panel? what is it used for?
thanks
Matte

 

[tblaxland]

yes exactly, i was referring to that. what is it? T-0 umbilical panel? what is it used for?

These two pdf drawings give a pretty good summary:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/sodb/2-2a.pdf
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/sodb/2-3a.pdf

Lots more good drawings here:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/sodb/

A lots of good info here also:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/shutref/index.html

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

--UPDATE--

Discovery's 3 FCV's (Fuel Control Valves) have now been replaced, so far without issue.

The agency level FRR (Flight Readiness Review) is scheduled to take place tomorrow (3rd Feb). The final launch date & time will be set at the conclusion of this meeting.

So far no major issues are being worked.

For more in-depth info, visit:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/02/discovery-on-track-heads-into-agency-frr/

At time of posting (2nd Feb @ 10.15pm GMT), only 9d 14h 16m until liftoff:speakcool:

 

[tblaxland]

The launch has been postponed a week to allow more time to resolve the flow control valve issue. Revised launch time is 19 Feb 09 4:41am EST (09:41 UTC).

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

The problematic distillation assembly of the UPA (Urine Processor Assembly), delivered to the ISS by STS-126, will now be replaced on STS-119.

The replacement distillation assembly has arrived in the SSPF (Space Station Processing Facility) to be checked-out prior to being loaded into Discovery for launch to the ISS on STS-119.

The UPA recycles urine into drinkable water. It is a very desirable component for the ISS, especially with a 6-person crew due to start this year.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Launch now postponed until at least Feb 22nd.


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More info:

Delay is caused by FCV issue, as FCV's on STS-126 sustained major damage, and problem needs to be repaired before next mission.

Next PCRB (Program Requirements Control Board) meeting will be on Feb 17th.

Discovery will now re-boost the ISS on STS-119, as the ISS's Zvezda service module engines are still being evaluated due to the abnormal oscillations during the last re-boost.

WORST CASE SCENARIO IS THAT THE FCV ISSUE COULD POSTOPNE THE STS-119 LAUNCH BY 2 MONTHS!


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FULL REVISED LAUNCH TIME:

Sun Feb 22nd @ 08.31am GMT/UTC (03.31am EST)

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

At yesterday's PRCB meeting, the STS-119 launch was set back until
NET Fri 27th Feb @ 06.32am GMT/UTC.

Delay cuased by FCV issue.

Fron NASA:

Teams from multiple NASA centers and contractor sites have made significant progress in understanding what caused the damage to a flow control valve in shuttle Endeavour during its mission in November. There are three valves in each shuttle that channel gaseous hydrogen from the main engines’ plumbing to the external fuel tank. The engineering teams have performed a tremendous amount of work, including computer modeling and actual tests to determine the consequences if a piece of a valve were to break off and strike shuttle and external fuel tank components. More time was needed to complete analyses and testing necessary to fly safely.

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From NasaSpaceflight.com:

In the hours leading up to meeting, fears of a launch date slip until NET (No Earlier Than) April 7 were noted, although it is likely that date is based on forward planning in the event a redesign of the valves is required ahead of STS-119.