Updates STS-133 Updates

[Orbinaut Pete]

NASA TV Video: Foam Reaffixed to Discovery's External Tank.​

 

[orb]

Florida Today: Discovery repairs coming to a close.

 

[orb]

NASASpaceFlight: STS-133 preparing for rollout – Managers call for ET-122 radius block installation:

Discovery is scheduled to begin her journey back out to Pad 39A with her modified External Tank (ET-137) at 8pm local on Monday evening, following an issue-free installation of radius blocks on most of its intertank stringers. {...}

Preparations for her rollout included a final power up, and the removal of platforms which have surrounded the stack during the ET stringer modification work in High Bay 1 (HB-1).

“OV-103 (STS-133) Performed the final power up in the VAB; did some systems snapshots. Closed out the crew module. The aft is closed out for rollout,” noted KSC Ground Operations on the latest Shuttle Standup/Intergration report (L2).

“On the ET stringer repair, the installation of the radius blocks was completed. All the foam has been applied; are in work with trimming and clean up. Will work inspections and any PRs (Problem Reports) on foam damage through the weekend.

“Will get the scaffolding removed and get into platform retraction this weekend. On track for first motion out of the VAB to the Pad on Monday at 20:00 ET.”

{...}

Spaceflight Niow:

• STS-133 Launch Windows (UPDATED JAN. 26)
• STS-133 Countdown Timeline (UPDATED JAN. 26)
• Ascent Timeline and Abort Boundaries (UPDATED JAN. 26)
• Mission Status Center:

  Now, the shuttle aims for a Monday night rollout aboard the Apollo-era transporter on the three-and-a-half-mile road trip to the launch pad. The trip is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. EST (0100 GMT) and should take about six hours, with Discovery getting anchored on the seaside pad early Tuesday morning.

 

[orb]

The rollout has begun. First motion logged at 00:58 UTC.

Spaceflight Now: Shuttle Discovery heads back to launch pad tonight.
CBS News Space: Shuttle Discovery prepped for return to launch pad after external tank repairs.

 

[orb]

The rollout hasn't ended yet, but there is already a nice photo gallery from the rollout -

Spaceflight Now:

• Discovery leaves Vehicle Assembly Building (PHOTO GALLERY)
• Discovery rolls out to launch pad again (PHOTO GALLERY)

 

[orb]

The rollout is complete. The mobile launch platform was harddown on the pad pedestals at 2:53 a.m. EST / 07:53 UTC, marking the official time for Discovery's arrival at pad 39A.

 

[Rtyh-12]

Yay!! I really hope they will launch now. Good to hear everything is going as planned!

 

[orb]

Science@NASA: Robonaut 2 Set to Launch in February.

Spaceflight Now: Shuttle Discovery returns to launch pad after tank repairs.

Florida Today: Discovery heads back to pad for final flight.

SPACE.com: Space Shuttle Discovery Returns to Launch Pad for Final Voyage.

BBC News: Discovery rolls out to launch pad.

 

[IronRain]

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Updated STS-133 mission patch (with Bowen's name in place of Kopra's).

Hi-res version.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Check out this awesome photo of the rollout from @RedHuber via Twitter (sorry, can't embed as its a TwitPic)! :thumbup:

 

[orb]

NASASpaceFlight: STS-133: Discovery enjoying early pad flow – ET-137 flight rationale positive:

Discovery remains on track for an opening launch attempt on February 24, as the stack is put through S0009 Launch Pad Validation task out at Complex 39A. No issues have been reported, as preparations pick up for the Delta Flight Readiness Reviews (FRRs) – which continue to show a clear path towards the required flight rationale on the External Tank (ET-137) stringers.

{...}

 

[Unstung]

Source: http://www.space.com/10772-robonaut-2-nasa-space-droid-details.html

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

STS-133 UPDATE: Problems with the GUCP on ET-137. Going to be disassembled at the pad, re-do leak checks. Contingency in the flow for this.

Aww, this is like deja vu all over again.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Astronaut Mike Massimino's new behind the scenes video: Discovery Team Gets Bowen as Pinch-Hitter.​

 

[Kyle]

Wouldn't that be just typical after all this stringer issues to have the GUCP crop up again on 133?

They said that GUCP was fixed after 127 passed its tanking test, and after STS-133's tanking test.

I would REALLY like to know whats causing these leaks. This is a lot worse than ECO sensors.

 

[orb]

NASASpaceFlight: STS-133: GUCP to be disassembled at pad – SRBs into hyper loading tasks:

With just over two weeks to launch, engineers will disassemble the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP) at the pad, after it was noted the troublesome hardware failed a leak check. Several contingency days exist in the STS-133 pad flow, as engineers press on with S0024 hyper loading tasks on the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs).

{...}

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

This flow just gets worse & worse...

Florida Today's "The Flame Trench" Blog: "Discovery examined for potential damage from dropped tool".

NASA says a tethered tool called a feeler gauge, which is comprised of 13 blades of metal the thickness of a piece of paper that are connected by a retainer screw, came apart and components fell from the pad's 215-foot level.

Nine of 13 blades fell to various levels down to the flame trench, inclduing one that reportedly stuck in the tank before blowing out, according to NASA reports.

:facepalm:

 

[Kyle]

Good news regarding the incident - the foam damage is in a non-critical area (back end of the ET), and is minor and does not need repair.

No effect towards launch on the 24th.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Mike Massimino's new video: STS-133 Crew Trains in Virtual Reality.​