STS 125

[DaveS]

I've been out of the loop - I heard something about possible debris in one of the ET tanks (forget which mission it was assigned to). What is the story on this?

ET-129 assigned to STS-126. Issue was that during rotation to vertical in the VAB several observers reported hearing a metallic noise. They conducted an investigation into it and took sever x-ray and sherography images and found nothing. Current thinking heading into both STS-400 and STS-126 FRRs is that it came either from the VAB cranes or other GSE.

So it's currently considered a closed matter. No concern for launch.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Hubble switchover efforts to Side B proceeding to plan

The complicated task of remotely switching the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) over to its Science Data Formatter (SDF) “Side B” of the Science Instrument Command and Data Handler (SIC&DH) is proceeding without issue.

HST engineers started transmitting lines of complex programming to the aging telescope on Wednesday, which included one final attempt to bring Side A to life.

Engineers are back in contact with Side A, and are utilizing data to gain diagnostic information from the Control Unit/Science Data Formatter (CU/SDF) hardware.

Transition to Side B has been issue-free, with engineers receiving telemetry that verified they had good data. Hubble’s 486 computer was reloaded with data and successfully performed a data dump back to the ground to verify all the loads were proper.

Hubble was then brought out of safe mode and the 486 computer was placed back in control. Engineers are not reconfiguring Side B’s computers to execute pre-science command loads and resume communications satellite tracking with the HST high gain antennas.

Hubble’s replacement hardware - which will hand the telescope a new Side A and Side B - is the key driver to STS-125’s launch date, which is currently tracking February 17 NET (No Earlier Than).

HST managers have noted that the hardware needs to undergo several months of pre-flight checkouts, including vibration testing, before being shipped to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for integration into Atlantis’ payload.

Should the timeline prove to be too restrictive on the February launch target, Discovery - on STS-119 - would return to the previously allocated widow, with Atlantis moving to April/May. This is mainly related to the need to have a LON (Launch On Need) shuttle “dual processed” for STS-125’s rescue requirements.

“Manifest Options: The Hubble Space Telescope team continues to evaluate their schedule for delivery of requalified spare hardware for launch on STS-125 to recover science operations,” noted Tuesday’s 8th Floor News (HQ memo).

“The expectation is that they will have a better understanding of their schedules in early November, which will factor into the decision on whether STS-125/HST or STS-119/15A launches in February.”

When the decision will be taken is believed to be November 5, according to STS-125 Mission Director Chuck Shaw. However, this all depends on the status of Hubble and its delivery timelines associated with the replacement hardware.

“The first pinch point in trying to protect STS-125/HST, STS-119/15A, and STS-401/OV103 HST LON all in February is flight software products, currently driving a late October decision date,” added the memo.

“However, depending on the results of the Flight Design assessment of the STS-401 template, it may be possible to delay the decision to mid-November, which syncs well with Hubble’s decision timeline.

“Bottomline is that folks are working all angles to ensure manifest decisions are made with the best data possible. So stay tuned, we’ll know more in a few weeks.”

STS-125’s payload has finally been removed from Pad 39A’s PCR (Payload Changeout Room), following a delay due to poor weather in the local area. This will free Atlantis for rollback on the 20th.

“The HST Payload canister was lowered last night and transferred to the PHSF (Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility) today,” noted processing information.

“Integrated preps for rollback are scheduled to begin today. RSS (Rotating Service Structure) move to park is scheduled for 1st shift Sunday, and 1st motion for rollback is scheduled for 0000 hours Monday.”

An issue with Atlantis is also being worked at the pad, which relates to a MDM (Multiplexer/Demultiplexer) card - the same hardware that caused a split of the GPCs (General Purpose Computers) on Discovery during pre-launch preparations ahead of STS-124.

“Documenting MDM OA2 reporting a Wrap failure. The team conducted troubleshooting again yesterday to try to isolate the condition,” added processing information. “MDM OA2 is still failed. MDM failed immediately upon power application to main busses.

“PCMMU (Pulse Code Modulation Master Unit) switched from 2 to 1 after power up. All MDM wraps are good in PCMMU 1.”

No issues have been reported with Atlantis’ GPCs - which read data and send commands to the MDMs - with the card likely to be changed-out either before rollback, or once back inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB).

From: Nasaspaceflight.com

 

[DaveS]

The Pad A RSS have now been rotated to the PARK position for tommorow's 7 am rollback. Tune in at 6:30 am Eastern time for live coverage of the rollback of Atlantis from Pad A to the VAB High Bay 3.


-----Posted Added-----


CT-1 is now being moved in position beneath MLP-1 for today's rollback, still currently targeted for 7 am Eastern time.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Atlantis is on the move!

See the whole operation live here:
http://www.nasa.gov/55644main_NASATV_Windows.asx

 

[DaveS]

Atlantis is on the move!

Not yet. CT-1 has still to jack up MLP-1 off the pad pedestals. Only then can the rollback begin.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Originally Posted by Orbinaut Pete
Atlantis is on the move!

Not yet. CT-1 has still to jack up MLP-1 off the pad pedestals. Only then can the rollback begin.

Looks like they are 38 mins behind schedule then!

 

[DaveS]

Looks like they are 38 mins behind schedule then!

Ehhh, first motion time is 7 am Eastern time which is 1100 UTC. In 15 minutes. So they're right on schedule.


-----Posted Added-----


Announced over the PA system: GO for first motion as planned at 7 am. CT has reached clearance height.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Aah sorry - I thought KSC were -4 hours from GMT - must be -5 then!

 

[DaveS]

And CT-1 has begun moving.


-----Posted Added-----


First motion was recorded at 6:48 am Eastern time(1048 UTC).

 

[agentgonzo]

A question:

I've been reading a bit about STS-400/401, and if they have to use it, it will transfer the crew of STS-125 over to STS-401 and then deorbit and land STS-401. Where will the crew sit? AFAIK, the shuttle has 7 seats and there will be 11 crew. Also, what will they do with the damaged STS-125? Can they remotely deorbit and land it (assuming it would survive reentry) or will they just deorbit it and let it burn up in the atmo?

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

I'm not sure where the crew would sit, but I do know about de-orbit.

If the shuttle was deemed to be in a suitable state to maybe survive re-entry, then NASA can remotely de-orbit & land the shuttle. However, if the shuttle is deemed too damaged to attempt a re-entry, then NASA can remotely de-orbit the shuttle tail-first, so it will break up & be destroyed during re-entry.

Maybe someone else could answer the question about seating, it puzzles me too...

 

[DaveS]

A question:

I've been reading a bit about STS-400/401, and if they have to use it, it will transfer the crew of STS-125 over to STS-401 and then deorbit and land STS-401. Where will the crew sit? AFAIK, the shuttle has 7 seats and there will be 11 crew. Also, what will they do with the damaged STS-125? Can they remotely deorbit and land it (assuming it would survive reentry) or will they just deorbit it and let it burn up in the atmo?

STS-125 crew will be seated down on the middeck on a so called AMRSS pallet. Here's a link to one of the STS-114 FRR presentations: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/pao/FOIA/FRRdocs/05_foi.pdf
Page 16 shows the AMRSS pallet and all the seats.

Current plan is for a destructive de-orbit into the Pacific of Atlantis following a successful STS-40x.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

STS-125 nearly back in VAB now...

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

So long, Atlantis...
See you in Feb 2009 (I hope):blink:

 

[Arrowstar]

STS-125 crew will be seated down on the middeck on a so called AMRSS pallet. Here's a link to one of the STS-114 FRR presentations: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/pao/FOIA/FRRdocs/05_foi.pdf
Page 16 shows the AMRSS pallet and all the seats.

Current plan is for a destructive de-orbit into the Pacific of Atlantis following a successful STS-40x.

Would there be no chance of a remote/computer controlled entry, descent, and landing? I understand the shuttle has the ability to land itself if need be, would it not be more economical to go this route if there was a decent possibility of the shuttle surviving re-entry?

 

[DaveS]

Would there be no chance of a remote/computer controlled entry, descent, and landing? I understand the shuttle has the ability to land itself if need be, would it not be more economical to go this route if there was a decent possibility of the shuttle surviving re-entry?

The orbiter lacks the ability to deploy the air data probes and arm/deploy the landing gear. There's also no abilitly to close the payload bay doors.

There's is however an In-Flight Maintenance(IFM) cable to do is called the Remote Control Orbiter(RCO) cable but that one is on ISS.

 

[Chipstone306]

From Nasa.com

Atlantis Reaches VAB

Image above: Space shuttle Atlantis rides a crawler from Launch Pad 39A to the Vehicle Assembly Building on Monday morning. Image credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
› View Hi-res Image
› Submit your comments on STS-126

Oct. 20, 2008
ASpace shuttle Atlantis is inside the protective confines of the Vehicle Assembly Building after being moved from Launch Pad 39A Monday morning. The shuttle will remain assembled for launch position until a new target date is set for its servicing mission to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope.

Problems that developed with the Hubble in space forced NASA to postpone the Atlantis’ STS-125 flight while managers reassess the mission’s plans.

With Atlantis tucked safely in the VAB, workers are turning their attention to Endeavour, now on Launch Pad 39B. Riding a crawler just as Atlantis did, Endeavour is to move to Launch Pad 39A on Saturday in preparation for a mission to the International Space Station.

Endeavour is targeted to lift off Nov. 14 on mission STS-126. It will be moved so work can continue to modify Launch Pad 39B to host the Ares I-X test flight next year.

 

[tblaxland]

Would there be no chance of a remote/computer controlled entry, descent, and landing? I understand the shuttle has the ability to land itself if need be, would it not be more economical to go this route if there was a decent possibility of the shuttle surviving re-entry?

More economical how? It is pretty likely that the shuttle program would be discontinued if a STS-3xx/4xx mission was flown anyway.

 

[DaveS]

Latest buzz is a delay to NET May '09 due to a failure on the replacement SIC&DH. Due to this failure, the new SIC&DH will not be ready in time for a Feb. '09 launch.

There's a media teleconference scheduled for tommorow at 5 pm EDT about the delay: http://www.nasa.gov/news/media/newsaudio/index.html

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Uh-Oh!

Wow.

Just read a rather interesting article on NASASpaceflight.com

It seems, STS-125 will now be delayed until Apr/May 09, due to the fact that the replacement part for the SideA SIC&DH*, does not work.

STS-125 is going to have to replace the broken SideA, but the replacement part that is at NASA's Goddard spaceflight center, does not appear to be working based on tests they have carried out. That means that the estimated delivery date of this part to the KSC (originally planned for Jan 09) has now been set back.

This also causes more delays for the Constellation program, who need Pad 39B for the Ares 1-X tests. The pad cant be fully modified until the need for an STS-125 LON** is gone.

Anyways, Atlantis, currently stacked in the VAB, will now have to be de-stacked and be sent back to the OPF***. This is beacuse the tyre pressure was only suitable for landing on until Apr, and so this will have to be boosted up. Also, there is an issue with condensation around the seal to the payload bay doors.

The HST is now back online, with all instruments now working & data being sent back to Earth via the SideB SIC&DH*. The software upgreades for 125 appear to have worked, but SideA now does not work, meaning if SideB fails, there is no backup, and Hubble is dead on orbit.

*SIC&DH = Science Instrument Command and Data Handling system.
Basically the part which sends all data from Hubble, back to Earth.

**LON = Launch On Need.
The shuttle needed to rescue STS-125 if something goes wrong, like tiles falling off during launch. LON is not needed for any other shuttle missions after 125, as they will all be able to reach the ISS for safety, but because the HST is on a higher orbit than the ISS, STS-125 would not be able to reach the ISS in emergency, and so another shuttle is needed to rescue the crew.

***OPF = Orbiter Processing Facility.
The hanger where the shuttles are kept & processed/repaired.


Looks like STS-125 is just "one of those missions"