Launch Day STS 122 Atlantis

[Chipstone306]

To begin posting at T-6 hrs

 

[DaveS]

T-6 hours and holding for two hours.

T-6 hours and holding
This built-in hold typically lasts two hours.

• Launch team verifies no violations of launch commit criteria before loading the External Tank with propellants
• Clear pad of all personnel
• Chill-down of propellant transfer lines
• Begin loading the External Tank with about 500,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants

 

[computerex]

Looks like bad weather may delay the launch:
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-02-06-voa85.cfm
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5itUcnkL3w4dj4M20_wMAVcEkBilg

 

[DaveS]

Looks like bad weather may delay the launch:
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-02-06-voa85.cfm
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5itUcnkL3w4dj4M20_wMAVcEkBilg

Uggggg.... mainstream media articles!

Chances are high that they're from AP(Associated Press) who are by far the worst offenders in the space reporting section of mainstream media.

So never ever trust a mainstream media article when it deals with space subjects.

Remember that "falling spy satellite" article a few days ago? Guess where it came from? Yep, AP!

They're known for basically taking something out of thin air, make a story of it and spin it like it sounds like the end of the solar system is coming in 4 days!

They have been like this ever since 2005.

 

[computerex]

Ok...Can I make a decision based on how much it's pouring outside my house then.
I really do hope they launch this thing today. This launch has been delayed for too long.

 

[DaveS]

NASA TV has now begun broadcasting a static view of Atlantis at 39A. Tanking coverage is set to start at 5:15 am EST(1015 UTC). Tanking will start at 5:20 am EST(1020 UTC) if the MMT gives approval of proceeding with tanking.

 

[DaveS]

Still no word on the go/no-go for tanking.

 

[DaveS]

GO for tanking!

 

[DaveS]

T-6 hours and counting! Chilldown of the transfer lines in work.

 

[DaveS]

Officiall start of tanking was at 5:21 am EST(1021 UTC). Chilldown of of both LOX and LH2 are in work.

 

[Notebook]

ESA has a blog on :-

http://webservices.esa.int/page.php

N.

 

[DaveS]

LH2 chilldown is complete, beginning slowfill.

 

[DaveS]

LOX chilldown is still in work, should be completed in about 10 minutes or so.

 

[DaveS]

LH2 ECO sensors have now gone WET per the plan. The Launch Team will be watching them very carefeully.

 

[DaveS]

The key test for the sensors is going to be the SIM Cmd test where the Launch Team forces the sensors to read DRY instead of WET.

They need all four sensors to read DRY at that time after the SIM Cmd test have been executed. They can still have one fail WET and still be able to launch, but any more than one, it's a scrub.

And CPROP console in the Firing Room reports that MPS LOX chilldown is complete and LOX has transitioned over to slowfill.

 

[DaveS]

Fuel cell calibration and checkouts have been completed. Three good fuel cells for today's launch.

The ECO sensor system checkouts have not yet started, should get a heads-up from CPROP before the tests.

 

[DaveS]

Now on fastfill on both LH2 and LOX. And the LH2 5% sensor has gone WET.

No heads-up yet from CPROP on the LLCO system checkouts.

 

[DaveS]

CPROP have started the LH2 LLCO system checkout tests.

 

[DaveS]

T-5 hours and counting. The word from CPROP is that the sensors are working. All 4 switched to DRY when commanded to and the voltages are looking good.

They want to do some more tests, so in about 20 minutes we shopuld know whether the sensors really are good to go this time.

 

[DaveS]

So far 25% of both LOX and LH2 have been loaded into the ET. CPROP is still assessing the health of the LLCO system.