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Space Forum / Shuttle / February 2004RTF moved to Discovery
The delay in return-to-flight from Sep 04 to Mar 05 was entirely unexpected. But why the shift from Atlantis to Discovery? Brian > The delay in return-to-flight from Sep 04 to Mar 05 was entirely > unexpected. But why the shift from Atlantis to Discovery? No Clue, can't find any stated reason in any of the articles I've read. Anyone know if there is anything that would mean it would be simpler to use Atlantis for the Rescue Mission than Discovery ? Or any reason that would make Discovery the preferred vehicle for the RTF, or general station missions ? I can't think of anything myself, unless its just something small in the processing flow that would mean Discovery would be ready slighty earlier than Atlantis - Can't think what that might be though. <Historical Note> Of course, didn't Discovery fly the RTF mission post Challenger ? </Historical Note> Iain > Or any reason that would make Discovery the preferred vehicle for > the RTF, or general station missions ? It's a little odd; Discovery and Atlantis, if I recall, are about as identical as orbiters can get. Which has been refitted most recently? > I can't think of anything myself, unless its just something small in the > processing flow that would mean Discovery would be ready slighty earlier > than Atlantis - Can't think what that might be though. ISTR that Atlantis was cannibalised more than Discovery for the CAIB investigation; perhaps Discovery is slightly, um, more assembled? Can't see it making a difference over this timescale, though.  Signature-Andrew Gray shimgray@bigfoot.com >> Or any reason that would make Discovery the preferred vehicle for >> the RTF, or general station missions ? > >It's a little odd; Discovery and Atlantis, if I recall, are about as >identical as orbiters can get. Which has been refitted most recently? Discovery, which might explain the switch. But with this great lead-time, I can't see any reason Atlantis wouldn't be just as ready for STS-114. >ISTR that Atlantis was cannibalised more than Discovery for the CAIB >investigation; perhaps Discovery is slightly, um, more assembled? Can't >see it making a difference over this timescale, though. Exactly. They have over a year to get ready two Orbiters. Hell, even Endeavour will be getting close to the end of its OMM by then. Brian >The delay in return-to-flight from Sep 04 to Mar 05 was entirely >unexpected. But why the shift from Atlantis to Discovery? That should have read "entirely expected", by the way. Brian > >The delay in return-to-flight from Sep 04 to Mar 05 was entirely > >__expected. But why the shift from Atlantis to Discovery? At the time NASA set a launch date for September 2004, why didn't it know it was not a realistic launch date ? Were there PR/politica pressure to launch in that time frame even though internally they knew that it was not realistic, or had NASA truly underestimated the technical problems to be tackled ? >> >The delay in return-to-flight from Sep 04 to Mar 05 was entirely >> >__expected. But why the shift from Atlantis to Discovery? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >that time frame even though internally they knew that it was not realistic, or >had NASA truly underestimated the technical problems to be tackled ? We've been hearing reports from Jorge, among others, for several months now that RTF was not going to make Sep 04. Brian > But why the shift from Atlantis to Discovery? > Brian This article answers the question... "A newer problem involves the rudder speed brake, a tail assembly that is used to steer and slow the spaceship as it comes in for a landing. In recent months, corrosion and microcracks were found in the machinery that operates Discovery's rudder speed brake. NASA has decided to remove and X-ray the same piece of machinery in its two other shuttles. The work is progressing fastest on Discovery and that is why it will fly first, as early as March 2005, Readdy said." http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/2412741 David Peterson |
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