Updates STS-133 Updates

[DaveS]

It's a scrub, 24hrs minimum. No RSS rotation tonight. KSC radio traffic confirms this with the hold point being RSS Rotation.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

New launch time is Thursday 4th November at 7:29:42 PM GMT. That will mean a landing on Monday 15th November.

However, the weather doesn't look good for Thursday, so it could be Friday.

Spaceflight Now: "Space shuttle launch delayed by electrical glitch".

NASASpaceFlight: "STS-133: Launch delayed at least 24 hours due to Main Engine Controller issue".

 

[Kyle]

New launch time is Thursday 4th November at 7:29:42 PM GMT. That will mean a landing on Monday 15 November.

However, the weather doesn't look good for Thursday, so it could be Friday.

NASASpaceFlight: "STS-133: Launch delayed at least 24 hours due to Main Engine Controller issue".

Somewhat iffy for Friday too. Sounds to me like the delay could last up to 48-72 hours. A JSC tweet that pete posted on NSF said that the delay could be till the end of the month (Beta cutout ends on the 1st of Dec., so if we don't make the 7th we get no show until the 1st of December)

If it goes to Saturday that would make my life a lot easier, that means I get to go see the launch up close!

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

CSA: "Final Flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery: Canada's Contribution".

The final flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery is scheduled for November 3, 2010, at 3:52 p.m. EDT. This is the second-to-last shuttle mission before the Space Shuttle program retires next year.

This flight will mark Canadarm2’s 28th mission since its installation on the International Space Station in 2001. Canadian astronauts have flown 14 times on the Space Shuttle and once on the Soyuz. Roberta Bondar, Bjarni Tryggvason and Julie Payette are the only Canadians to have flown aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery.

Julie Payette’s tribute to Discovery can be viewed at:
ftp://ftp.asc-csa.gc.ca/pub/communication/1_MOIS/20101028_sts133

Here is a list of the Canadian content on Mission STS-133:

• 
  
  HYPERSOLE
  
  Hypersole is a life sciences experiment being conducted by the University of Guelph in cooperation with the Canadian Space Agency. This experiment aims to measure cutaneous sensitivity of the soles of the feet of astronauts, pre- and post-space flight. Understanding the relationship between the sense of touch and balance control could help persons with balance problems and astronauts who may potentially set foot on other celestial bodies following a lengthy stay in microgravity.
  
  A backgrounder is available at: http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/iss/hypersole.asp
  
  Video is available at this address:
  ftp://ftp.asc-csa.gc.ca/pub/communication/1_MOIS/20101028_sts133/
  
  [*]APEX-CSA2
  
  24 Canadian white spruce seedlings were launched to the ISS aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in April 2010. Samples will be returned to Earth after more than six months on the Station. The seedlings grew for 30 days in microgravity before being harvested and frozen in a special solution. Scientists will analyze their DNA to help understand how trees make wood that are of benefit to the forestry industry. APEX-CSA2 is led by Dr. Jean Beaulieu of Natural Resources Canada's Canadian Wood Fibre Centre in Quebec City, with the close collaboration of the Canadian Space Agency and NASA.
  
  [*]VASCULAR
  
  Blood samples collected as part of the VASCULAR experiment will be returned to Earth aboard Discovery for analysis. The Health Consequences of Long-Duration Flight experiment (VASCULAR) is an integrated investigation of mechanisms responsible for changes in blood vessel structure with long-duration space flight and is linked with functional and health consequences that parallel changes associated with the aging process. Dr. Richard Hughson of the University of Waterloo leads the VASCULAR science team, which is funded by the Canadian Space Agency and supported by NASA.

Canada has flown nearly 50 science experiments on the Space Shuttle since STS-09 (41A) in 1983. These experiments have given rise to over 220 scientific papers on subjects such as: bone loss; back pain; eye-hand coordination; blood pressure; ageing; plant cell development; optics; the ozone layer; machine vision systems; crystal growth; metal diffusion; composite materials resistance and thin film formation.

You will find a tribute from former CSA Astronaut Dave Williams on Canadian science here: ftp://ftp.asc-csa.gc.ca/pub/communication/1_MOIS/20101028_sts133

 

[Pyromaniac605]

I hope they launch, but at the same time I don't want to miss this.

Darren

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

NASA TV Video: Discovery Launch Delayed by at Least a Day.​

Here's an updated STS-133 Countdown Timeline from Spaceflight Now.

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now: Will shuttle Discovery be cleared for launch Thursday?:

...

NASA's mission management team plans to meet at 2 p.m. EDT to review overnight progress and to make a decision on whether to launch Discovery as is Thursday or to stand down for repairs.

While the weather forecast does not normally play a roll in launch decisions, it could be a factor in this case. Meteorologists are predicting dismal conditions Thursday with high winds expected Friday and Saturday.

With a frontal system moving through the area, forecasters are predicting an 80 percent chance of low clouds and rain that would prohibit a launching Thursday. High winds are expected Friday and Saturday, with forecasters putting the odds of acceptable weather at 60 percent and 40 percent respectively.

The shuttle's current launch window runs through Sunday, with a possible extension to Monday. If Discovery isn't off the ground by then, launch would slip to Dec. 1, the opening of the year's final shuttle launch window.

...

CBS News Space: Shuttle countdown on hold pending engineering review.

 

[IronRain]

Man, she is not really cooperating. Maybe Discovery just don't want to retire :lol:

 

[DaveS]

The MMT met this afternoon and reviewed the problem with Main Engine Controller-3 (MEC-3) and decided to press on to the pre-tanking meeting tomorrow morning at 5:30am EDT.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

RSS rollback is currently on hold due to lightning concerns.

Spaceflight Now: "Shuttle Discovery will shoot for launch Thursday".

NASASpaceFlight: "STS-133: MMT decide to press ahead with Thursday launch attempt".

---------- Post added 4th Nov 2010 at 12:08 AM ---------- Previous post was 3rd Nov 2010 at 10:53 PM ----------

RSS is now retracting.

STS-133 NASA TV schedule (Rev. B).

 

[Poscik]

RSS is moving to PARK position.

EDIT: Sorry, I didn't notice Pete's added post

 

[orb]

After the one-and-a-half-day hold at T-11 hours, clocks will resume counting at 11:04 p.m. EDT / 03:04 UTC. The orbiter's fuel cells will be activated an hour later, and the hazard area around the pad will get cleared of all workers overnight.

The next planned two-hour hold is T-6 hours beginning at 4:04 a.m. EDT / 08:04 UTC. During this time, the MMT will have pre-fueling meeting. If all goes according to plan, loading of the external tank with propellant will start at 6:04 a.m. EDT / 10:04 UTC with the countdown resume.

 

[DaveS]

In the T-6 hour hold. Based on the feed that Spaceflightnow.com is providing, it seems to pouring down at the pad right now.

 

[IronRain]

everything that falls now, can't fall in a couple of hours.. (keep thinking positive:uhh

 

[Wishbone]

crossing fingers

 

[DaveS]

20 minutes left in the hold if they decide to press on.

---------- Post added at 10:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:41 AM ----------

The slate for the tanking coverage has just gone up on NASA TV(6am EDT).

 

[IronRain]

although its rainy, everything is within the limits for tanking

 

[DaveS]

T-6 hours and counting.

 

[Kyle]

This is screaming a scrub..

UPDATE:

LAUNCH SCRUBBED. NASA managers will meet tomorrow to decide to launch (much better chance tomorrow) New launch time will be 3:04 p.m EDT.

 

[Zoe]

SCRUB!