STS-127 Updates

[Kyle]

SOURCE OF ARTICLE; http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/05/atlantis-heading-to-california-fleet-status-update/
Endeavour is on a very tight processing flow, with her move from Pad 39B waiting on repairs to Pad 39A’s SRB flame deflector, which suffered from damage during STS-125’s launch.

“Pad A turnaround activities are going well, repaired high pressure lines, took X-rays, will continue with this and do sampling,” added KSC’s Ground Operations (L2). “On SRB flame deflector, are continuing with repairs. Will apply fondue Fyre next week.”

This, along with the ASA-1 issue on Atlantis, in addition to retorquing of two windows on Endeavour, are currently the only pre-FRR topics being discussed by the Orbiter Project Office (OPO).

“Had OPO pre-FRR for STS-127. Don’t have any special topics now. Don’t feel ASA-1 issue is constraint for STS-127, but will need to check OV-104 (Atlantis) after landing to see if have problem with wiring in box, in aft or where wiring issue is,” the JSC body noted (L2).

“Must work on Vespel fastener relaxation issue for STS-127; have new installations on windows 1 and 6, collected data and did some testing. Team recommended that windows 1 and 6 be retorqued on STS-127 before flight.

“Working on that with GO; realize schedule is very tight as roll over from pad B to pad A. Also looking at whether can fly with that. Discussed late breaking ISS (International Space Station) request to provide iodinated water on STS-127 and other flights.”

 

[DaveS]

Well, the rollaround has slipped 24hrs due to bad weather at KSC delaying some critical ops that needs to happen before a rollaround can commence.

First motion off 39B is now planned for 12:01 am EDT Sunday(0401 UTC) if they can catch up once the bad weather has cleared.

Due to this delay TCDT has also been delayed from June 2 to June 4 to get Endeavour and the launch pad readied to support TCDT.

 

[DaveS]

Today the Level I Flight Readiness Review(FRR) was held at KSC which concluded with a unanimous GO decision to proceed with a June 13 launch at 7:17 am EDT.

Tomorrow the TCDT will wrap up with a simulated RSLS cut-off at T-4 seconds at 11 am EDT after which the crew will simulate a safing of the vehicle and make a dash for the Emergency Escape System slidewire baskets on the west side of the FSS.

They will ingress the baskets but not actually release them. That will conclude the TCDT after when the crew will return to the crew quarters and doff the ACES suits.

Then they will fly back to Houston and enter qaurantine on Saturday.

 

[Zoe]

STS-127 briefing and events schedule:

All times Eastern.

L-4 Days - Tuesday, June 9

12:15 a.m - Crew arrival

1 p.m. - Pre-launch Status Update
- Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, NASA test director

L-3 Days - Wednesday, June 10

9 a.m. - Launch countdown officially begins (not on NASA TV)

10 a.m. - Countdown Status Briefing
- Steve Payne, NASA test director
- Scott Higginbotham, STS-127 payload manager
- Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer

L-2 Days - Thursday, June 11

11 a.m. – JAXA News Conference

12 p.m. (no earlier than) - Prelaunch News Conference
- Mike Moses, chair, Mission Management Team
- Pete Nickolenko, shuttle launch director
- Koki Oikawa, function manager, JEM Project Team- Canadian Space Agency Representative
- Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer

1 - 3 p.m. - Constellation Briefing and Media Event (not on NASA TV)

L-1 Day – Friday, June 12

10 a.m. - STS-127 Web cast on NASA TV

11 a.m. - Rotating Service Structure moves into position

Approx. 9:52 p.m. - Fueling begins (not on NASA TV)

Launch Day – Saturday, June 13

2 a.m. - Live launch commentary begins

Crew Activities: (times may vary slightly)
8:15 p.m. (Friday, June 12) -- Crew wakes up (not on NASA TV)
2:47 a.m. -- Weather briefing (commander, pilot and mission specialist 2) (not on NASA TV)
2:57 p.m. -- Astronauts don flight suits
3:27 a.m. -- Depart for launch pad
3:57 a.m. -- Arrive at White Room and begin ingress
5:12 a.m. -- Close crew hatch

7:17 a.m. -- Launch

Launch + 1 hour - Post-launch News Conference
- Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Representative
- Canadian Space Agency Representative
- Mike Moses, chair, Mission Management Team
- Pete Nickolenko, STS-127 shuttle launch director

Launch + 2 hours - JAXA Post-launch News Conference (local only, not on NASA TV)

 

[DaveS]

The first weather forecast from the 45th Weather Squadron is out: http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070517-025.pdf

The primary concerns on launch morning is a slight chance of rain showers and cumulus clouds associated with those showers.

They have set the probability of KSC Wx prohibiting violating LCCs at 20%. Same deal for 24 and 48 hour scrub turn-arounds.

 

[DaveS]

Right now in the T-11 hour hold which began at 1 am EDT(0500 UTC) and will last for 13 hours and 52 minutes. At approx. 10:30 pm EDT(0230 UTC) the GOX Vent Arm(GVA) was extended.

At 11am EDT(1500 UTC) the RSS will be rotated to the PARK position for launch.

---------- Post added at 05:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:32 AM ----------

The RSS is now been fully rotated to the PARK position for launch. Later the GOX Vent Hood will be lowered over the nosecone of the ET.

 

[DaveS]

Right now in the T-6 hour hold with 1 hour and 11 minutes remaining. Below is a screengrab from OTV-071 of the stack light up by powerful trailer-mounted xenon lights as the sun is setting at KSC.

 

[Zoe]

SCRUB! Looks like this could be a GUCP leak like STS-119.

 

[Notebook]

Dosen't look good:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8098462.stm

N.

 

[DaveS]

Sunrise at KSC. GOX Vent Arm is in the retracted position as it is no longer needed.

 

[DaveS]

KSC is currently in the middle of a pretty big thunderstorm. Attached is some screen-grabs from OTV-071.

 

[DaveS]

ET inerting is complete and the Intertank Access Arm have been extended for the GUCP troubleshooting work. Currently in a shift handover phase.

 

[DaveS]

The decision made at today's MMT meeting was to defer any launch date decision for STS-127 until tomorrow which is when the Range needs to know which one will launch first, Endeavour or Atlas V with LRO/LCROSS.

A countdown status briefing is set for 3 pm EDT(1900 UTC) tomorrow, so we'll know by then which one will launch first.

Meanwhile out at the pad, GUCP work is going smoothly with no unplanned interruptions. Earlier today the GUCP electrical connectors were disconnected which was followed a few hours later by the disconnection of the actual hydrogen vent line.

And now they have removed the GUCP Quick Disconnect(QD) from the GUCP itself. I have attached a close-up of the GUCP without the QD taking only minutes ago.

The QD fits into the big hole in the images with the hydrogen vent line connecting to the QD.

 

[DaveS]

And a final update on the GUCP work for now: Both the primary and secondary teflon seals in the GUCP have now been removed. They along with the QD will be replaced with new units.

 

[agentgonzo]

STS 127 now scheduled to launch at 0940 GMT (5:40 am EDT, 10:40 am BST, 11:40 am CET).
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/index.html

 

[Zoe]

STS 127 now scheduled to launch at 0940 GMT (5:40 am EDT, 10:40 am BST, 11:40 am CET).
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/index.html

Actually 11:40 AM CEST.

 

[Notebook]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8104407.stm

N.

 

[DaveS]

Launch have been scrubbed to gaseous hydrogen leak at the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate(GUCP). When the next launch attempt of STS-127 can be made is TBD at this time.

 

[agentgonzo]

Launch have been scrubbed to gaseous hydrogen leak at the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate(GUCP). When the next launch attempt of STS-127 can be made is TBD at this time.

Pooey. I was all geared up for that. Oh well, it will leave more time for other things this morning.
Next launch attempt is (NET?) 11th July.

 

[Moonwalker]

I seriously think that it is time for NASA to get a new launch vehicle finally. The STS orbiter itself and the SRB's are just a masterpiece. But the MPS and the ET is the most annoying systems NASA has ever operated.

I'm really loosing interest in watching the STS-127 launch "attempts" (like many times before on other launch attempts). Maybe the news will tell me when the Shuttle is where it is supposed to be instead of rust away on the pad...