jlinscheid
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Better safe than sorry. I was getting nervous that they were having sensor errors. Stuff was getting soaked.
STS-128 Updates
- Thread starter Kyle
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ryan
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It wasn't the sensors that you gotta worry about, it was the weather.
Not a leaky valve. It's in the inboard fill/drain valve for LH2. This is a pneumatic valve located inside the aft engine compartment of the orbiter.
The problem is that they have an indication that the valve is not working correctly. The LCCs state that you cannot cycle the valve as then if it is really broken you might end up with it in the closed state which will prevent you from draining the LH2 from the ET.
So they decided to follow the LCCs as written and scrubbing. Right now draining the ET.
---------- Post added at 01:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:31 AM ----------
Here's the official post-scrub statement from NASA:
Shuttle Managers to Discuss Valve Problem
Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:09:01 AM GMT+0200
Shuttle managers will hold a standard post-scrub meeting at 7:15p.m. EDT regarding the launch attempt of Discovery that was called off earlier today after a problem developed with a liquid hydrogen fill-and-drain valve in the aft compartment of the shuttle. A news briefing will be held after that meeting concludes and will air on NASA TV.
Regarding the valve, when launch controllers commanded it to close, they did not receive the "closed" indication. There is a concern that the valve is either open or partially open, but that needs to be evaluated for confirmation.
A new launch date and time for Discovery's STS-128 mission has not been set at this time.
tblaxland
O-F Administrator
Nice drawing, thank you. Do they use GN2 to drive those valves?
Here's an description of the function of the LH2 Outboard Fill/Drain vavle also known as PV12:
"PROVIDES A MEANS OF LOADING AND DRAINING THE ET THROUGH THE PROPELLANT
FEED SYSTEM. THE VALVE, ALONG WITH LH2 TOPPING VALVE (PV13) AND THE
OUTBOARD FILL AND DRAIN VALVE (PV11), PROVIDES A REDUNDANT MEANS OF
CONTAINING PROPELLANT IN THE FEED SYSTEM. THE VALVE IS MOUNTED ON THE FEED
LINE MANIFOLD TO ISOLATE THE FILL LINE FROM THE FEED SYSTEM. IT IS REQUIRED TO
BE CLOSED FOR PROPELLANT TOPPING/REPLENISHMENT OPERATIONS. BOTH THE
INBOARD AND OUTBOARD VALVES REMAIN CLOSED DURING ENGINE OPERATION. POST
MECO, THE INBOARD & OUTBOARD FILL VALVES ARE SOFTWARE COMMANDED OPEN
FOR DUMP OF RESIDUAL LH2. FOR A NOMINAL MISSION THE INBOARD VALVE REMAINS
OPEN AFTER INERTING THROUGH REENTRY AND LANDING. FOR AN RTLS/TAL THE
INBOARD VALVE IS COMMANDED CLOSED AFTER 20 SECONDS (OI-23). VALVE
INCORPORATES AN ANTI-SLAM MECHANISM TO PREVENT VALVE SLAMMING DAMAGE
DURING IMPROPER VALVE OPEN/CLOSE OPERATIONS. THE VALVE ALSO INCORPORATES
A RELIEF VALVE, RELIEVING FROM THE FILL LINE INTO THE MANIFOLD; AND A PORT FOR
INSTALLATION OF LH2 RELIEF SHUTOFF ISOLATION VALVE (PV8)."
"PROVIDES A MEANS OF LOADING AND DRAINING THE ET THROUGH THE PROPELLANT
FEED SYSTEM. THE VALVE, ALONG WITH LH2 TOPPING VALVE (PV13) AND THE
OUTBOARD FILL AND DRAIN VALVE (PV11), PROVIDES A REDUNDANT MEANS OF
CONTAINING PROPELLANT IN THE FEED SYSTEM. THE VALVE IS MOUNTED ON THE FEED
LINE MANIFOLD TO ISOLATE THE FILL LINE FROM THE FEED SYSTEM. IT IS REQUIRED TO
BE CLOSED FOR PROPELLANT TOPPING/REPLENISHMENT OPERATIONS. BOTH THE
INBOARD AND OUTBOARD VALVES REMAIN CLOSED DURING ENGINE OPERATION. POST
MECO, THE INBOARD & OUTBOARD FILL VALVES ARE SOFTWARE COMMANDED OPEN
FOR DUMP OF RESIDUAL LH2. FOR A NOMINAL MISSION THE INBOARD VALVE REMAINS
OPEN AFTER INERTING THROUGH REENTRY AND LANDING. FOR AN RTLS/TAL THE
INBOARD VALVE IS COMMANDED CLOSED AFTER 20 SECONDS (OI-23). VALVE
INCORPORATES AN ANTI-SLAM MECHANISM TO PREVENT VALVE SLAMMING DAMAGE
DURING IMPROPER VALVE OPEN/CLOSE OPERATIONS. THE VALVE ALSO INCORPORATES
A RELIEF VALVE, RELIEVING FROM THE FILL LINE INTO THE MANIFOLD; AND A PORT FOR
INSTALLATION OF LH2 RELIEF SHUTOFF ISOLATION VALVE (PV8)."
Yes.
Orbinaut Pete
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The new launch time is Fri 28 Aug @ 4:22:06am GMT/UTC.
There is another launch opportunity on Sat 29 Aug @ 3:59am GMT/UTC.
If Discovery doesn't launch on the 29, then the launch date will be NET Oct 17.
That's because Discovery's launch window closes after Aug 30, due to upcoming HTV & Soyuz launches, and because Air Force Eastern Range, which provides tracking and telemetry support for all rockets launched from KSC, is booked for another operation in early September.
There is another launch opportunity on Sat 29 Aug @ 3:59am GMT/UTC.
If Discovery doesn't launch on the 29, then the launch date will be NET Oct 17.
That's because Discovery's launch window closes after Aug 30, due to upcoming HTV & Soyuz launches, and because Air Force Eastern Range, which provides tracking and telemetry support for all rockets launched from KSC, is booked for another operation in early September.
The valve tests are complete and the valve cycled between open and closed successfully as planned during the 5 cycles. Next up is a volume decay check and this will take a few hours.
The data from the valve cycles as well as the decay check will be presented to the MMT tomorrow at noon EDT. Hopefully the decay check is successful as well as then the managers could accept to fly with a broken Valve Position Indicator(VPI).
If they would accept the fly-as-is rationale for flying without the VPI, tanking would commence at 3 pm EDT. Tanking coverage would then begin at 2:45 pm EDT.
The data from the valve cycles as well as the decay check will be presented to the MMT tomorrow at noon EDT. Hopefully the decay check is successful as well as then the managers could accept to fly with a broken Valve Position Indicator(VPI).
If they would accept the fly-as-is rationale for flying without the VPI, tanking would commence at 3 pm EDT. Tanking coverage would then begin at 2:45 pm EDT.
Just got a quick Blackberry message from my friend at KSC; during the valve cycling the closed indication came up just like it was supposed to. He also said that the valve signature from tonight's cycling matched the tanking signature from yesterday, they just didn't get the closed indication yesterday.
dougkeenan
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Excellent!
ryan
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For all you Australian orbitnauts.
Brisbane-2:22 pm
That time goes for both Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart
Darwin-1:22 pm
Same for Adelaide.
Perth-12-22 pm
Pretty convenient times for aussies.
---------- Post added at 01:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:50 AM ----------
Instrumentation? or electrical?
And that's pretty convenient having a contact at KSC.
Brisbane-2:22 pm
That time goes for both Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart
Darwin-1:22 pm
Same for Adelaide.
Perth-12-22 pm
Pretty convenient times for aussies.
---------- Post added at 01:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:50 AM ----------
Instrumentation? or electrical?
And that's pretty convenient having a contact at KSC.
Orbinaut Pete
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New launch times:
EDT - Fri 28 Aug @ 11:59:36 pm.
GMT/UTC - Sat 29 Aug @ 3:59:36 am.
BST - Sat 29 Aug @ 4:59:36 am.
---------- Post added at 18:37 ---------- Previous post was at 18:18 ----------
We got one chance to launch now, or else it'll be Oct 17!!!!
EDT - Fri 28 Aug @ 11:59:36 pm.
GMT/UTC - Sat 29 Aug @ 3:59:36 am.
BST - Sat 29 Aug @ 4:59:36 am.
---------- Post added at 18:37 ---------- Previous post was at 18:18 ----------
We got one chance to launch now, or else it'll be Oct 17!!!!
Agreed!
After the SRB separation, what were those odd 'things' which looked like flames from the SSMEs, but were at/near the edge of the field of view of the camera?
EDIT: In this video, at 9:27 and 9:51, you can see the effects that I am wondering about. They were much more prominent on today's shuttle launch though.
Last edited:
Orbinaut Pete
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Well, I saw Discovery + the ET go over the UK - one white dot, and one orange dot about half an inch below!
It was 5:15am here, and they were coming from the West - so they were both travelling into sunrise, which means that I got 3 minutes of glorious sighting time, as the two dots went across the entire sky!
Here's some pictures of STS-128 + ET going over UK (NOT taken by me), but it's exactly like what I saw:
http://twitpic.com/fnziy/full
http://twitpic.com/fnyoe/full
http://twitpic.com/fo04k/full
It was un-real. It completely blew me away.
It was one of the most awesome things I have ever seen.
It was amazing to think that those two dots had been on LC-39A in Florida only 15 minutes ago.
It was very moving - especially since I received a message from Jose Hernandez last week, who was in that white dot above me!
It's 7am now, and I haven't slept in 23 hours, but I am too blown away by what I saw to sleep!
I'll never forget it. I only wish that I could share it with all of you.
---------- Post added at 07:14 ---------- Previous post was at 07:13 ----------
MCC reports that no debris events were noted during ascent!
BBC News launch article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8228089.stm
Hi-res launch photos: http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=206
Keep watching for the HD launch video - it will be posted here in the next few days: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/hd/index.html
STS-128 image gallery: http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-128/ndxpage1.html
Track Discovery + ISS together: http://www.n2yo.com/?s=25544|35810
Discovery will land on Thu 10 Sep @ 11:09pm GMT/UTC
It was 5:15am here, and they were coming from the West - so they were both travelling into sunrise, which means that I got 3 minutes of glorious sighting time, as the two dots went across the entire sky!
Here's some pictures of STS-128 + ET going over UK (NOT taken by me), but it's exactly like what I saw:
http://twitpic.com/fnziy/full
http://twitpic.com/fnyoe/full
http://twitpic.com/fo04k/full
It was un-real. It completely blew me away.
It was one of the most awesome things I have ever seen.
It was amazing to think that those two dots had been on LC-39A in Florida only 15 minutes ago.
It was very moving - especially since I received a message from Jose Hernandez last week, who was in that white dot above me!
It's 7am now, and I haven't slept in 23 hours, but I am too blown away by what I saw to sleep!
I'll never forget it. I only wish that I could share it with all of you.
---------- Post added at 07:14 ---------- Previous post was at 07:13 ----------
MCC reports that no debris events were noted during ascent!
BBC News launch article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8228089.stm
Hi-res launch photos: http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=206
Keep watching for the HD launch video - it will be posted here in the next few days: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/hd/index.html
STS-128 image gallery: http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-128/ndxpage1.html
Track Discovery + ISS together: http://www.n2yo.com/?s=25544|35810
Discovery will land on Thu 10 Sep @ 11:09pm GMT/UTC
