 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeDiscussion GroupsSpace ScienceAstronomyAmateur AstronomySpace FlightSpace StationShuttleSpace HistorySpace PolicySETI SpaceKB.com Contact UsLink To UsSearch & Site Map |
Space Forum / Shuttle / August 2006Ernesto threatens shuttle
So how soon do they have to decide to roll back inside? > So how soon do they have to decide to roll back inside? they will likely try to launch before hurricane arrives,, having it sit on pad bad idea even tareped imnagine the foam issues...... >> So how soon do they have to decide to roll back inside? > > they will likely try to launch before hurricane arrives,, having it sit > on pad bad idea even tareped imnagine the foam issues...... At great risk of being fired for not going through proper channels I can tell you that the plan is this: If we have not launched by Wednesday, the lightning protection system will be taken down as protection against FOD. The shuttle weather protection system will be removed and the RSS will be retracted. An MLP has been moved into the VAB but save for a few SRB segments little stacking has been done and 103 is safely in OPF 3 so we can then send techs up onto the VAB roof to retrieve tarps to cover 104. If not enough tarps remain there is a Walmart in Titusville and we will get whatever else we need from there. >If we have not launched by Wednesday, the lightning protection system will >be taken down as protection against FOD. Wednesday? So NASA has ruled out a rollback? http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at5+shtml/144732.shtml?5day Brian Oh very funny... Don't you think they will have sold out by that time? :-) Brian  SignatureBrian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email. graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them Email: briang1@blueyonder.co.uk ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ >>> So how soon do they have to decide to roll back inside? >> [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > is a Walmart in Titusville and we will get whatever else we need from > there. > Oh very funny... > > Don't you think they will have sold out by that time? :-) Compared to what to costs to roll back it's a risk NASA is willing to take. <Apologizes for that Walmart off the M32 just outside Bristol...> During Hurricane season lots of store will bring in lots of stuff to prepare for it. All the common things, plywood, batteries, water ... I would doubt that blue tarps are plentiful. But, if it takes two days to get it back in the VAB, I would think Tuesday or sooner would be... http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2006/ERNESTO_graphics.shtml The 5 day projection is interesting. SignatureCraig Fink Courtesy E-Mail Welcome @ WeBeGood@GMail.Com > During Hurricane season lots of store will bring in lots of stuff to > prepare for it. All the common things, plywood, batteries, water ... I > would doubt that blue tarps are plentiful. > > But, if it takes two days to get it back in the VAB, I would think Tuesday > or sooner would be... Yep, being serious - if it's not launched by Tuesday night and this storm stays on its forecast track I have to think they'll be taking a serious look at a rollback. Let's keep 'em crossed that we launch on Tuesday... >> During Hurricane season lots of store will bring in lots of stuff to >> prepare for it. All the common things, plywood, batteries, water ... I [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > stays on its forecast track I have to think they'll be taking a serious > look at a rollback. Let's keep 'em crossed that we launch on Tuesday... Actually I just heard they'll decide late tonight about starting to roll back Tuesday. Damn weather. >Yep, being serious - if it's not launched by Tuesday night and this storm >stays on its forecast track I have to think they'll be taking a serious look >at a rollback. Let's keep 'em crossed that we launch on Tuesday... You'll be getting outer feeder bands of the storm, or worse, swamping you by Tuesday. I think Monday is the last chance for a rollback. Brian > Yep, being serious - if it's not launched by Tuesday night and this storm > stays on its forecast track I have to think they'll be taking a serious look > at a rollback. Let's keep 'em crossed that we launch on Tuesday... Does NASA have fixed metrics on how much wind/rain a shuttle can widthstand at the launch pad ? I know that it has, in the past published specs on what its buildings can survive. If Ernesto ends up being only a Car I or tropica storm by the time it reaches KSC, does the Shuttle really have to be moved back to the VAB ? Someone mentioned retracting the RSS. If NASA decides to leave the shuttle at the pad, woudln't the RSS remain over it to protect it ? >> Yep, being serious - if it's not launched by Tuesday night and this >> storm >> stays on its forecast track I have to think they'll be taking a serious >> look >> at a rollback. Let's keep 'em crossed that we launch on Tuesday... > If Ernesto ends up being only a Car I or tropica storm by the time it > reaches KSC, does the Shuttle really have to be moved back to the VAB ? The trouble is the lead time required to get it back. Last I heard (and this has been released > Someone mentioned retracting the RSS. If NASA decides to leave the > shuttle at the pad, woudln't the RSS remain over it to protect it ? Yes it would, that was just me yanking Haller's chain. > > If Ernesto ends up being only a Car I or tropica storm by the time it > > reaches KSC, does the Shuttle really have to be moved back to the VAB ? > > The trouble is the lead time required to get it back. Last I heard (and > this has been released Excuse me for interrupting but I have a question not answered in the briefing at 8-9EST 8/27/06. If the decision is made *not* to go to rollback prep and to instead go for launch on Tuesday, a see a possible problem. I recall a lauch once being scrubbed *after* main engine ignition but obviously before SRB ignition. If that were to happen on Tuesday (or something similar that happens late in the countdown that prevents launch), doesn't that mean the system gets stuck at the pad during the arrival of Ernesto because of insufficient time to detank, prep for rollback and rollback? Lee Jay >I recall a lauch once being scrubbed *after* main engine ignition but >obviously before SRB ignition. The last was in 1993. Improved engines since then make it unlikely nowadays. Most last minute delays in the last decade have been for... wait for it... the weather. >If that were to happen on Tuesday (or >something similar that happens late in the countdown that prevents >launch), doesn't that mean the system gets stuck at the pad during the >arrival of Ernesto because of insufficient time to detank, prep for >rollback and rollback? I don't think they'd have time to roll back, last-second launch abort or not, after Tuesday. They either go for launch Tuesday, or roll back Tuesday. Weather will be too bad for either on Wednesday (and I have my doubts about Tuesday's weather, too.) Brian > >I recall a lauch once being scrubbed *after* main engine ignition but > >obviously before SRB ignition. > > The last was in 1993. Improved engines since then make it unlikely > nowadays. Most last minute delays in the last decade have been for... > wait for it... the weather. I realize that but, you know, stuff happens. > >If that were to happen on Tuesday (or > >something similar that happens late in the countdown that prevents [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Tuesday. Weather will be too bad for either on Wednesday (and I have > my doubts about Tuesday's weather, too.) As do I. I predict they'll start rollback prep tomorrow. That lightning strike killed this window. When does the next one open? Lee Jay > > I don't think they'd have time to roll back, last-second launch abort > > or not, after Tuesday. They either go for launch Tuesday, or roll back > > Tuesday. Weather will be too bad for either on Wednesday (and I have > > my doubts about Tuesday's weather, too.) Finally found confirmation of this: "The forecast for Tuesday calls for showers in the area and if NASA failed to get Atlantis off, engineers would not have time to get the shuttle back to the VAB before high winds from Ernesto reached the area." From: http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts115/060827gerst/ Lee Jay > "The forecast for Tuesday calls for showers in the area and if NASA > failed to get Atlantis off, engineers would not have time to get the > shuttle back to the VAB before high winds from Ernesto reached the > area." Heard that NASA would make a decision no later than 07:00am KSC time on Monday. My guess is that unless the weather outlook for tuesday is *great*, they'll probably play it safe and decide to move the shutle back to VAB. Even if the weather looks great, they have to look at the possibility of some glitch that forces a scrub at the last minute on Tuesday, and whether at that time, there would be enough time left to bring the shuttle back to VAB (or whether it is save to keep shuttle on the pad during the weather event). > whether it is save to keep shuttle on the pad during the weather event That's the crux of the matter, as I understand it. They were waiting because they thought maybe the storm would weaken or change course. It has changed course a bit, but in the direction of going *closer* to the Cape: http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts115/060828rollback/5am.gif So they have decided to roll back. >> whether it is save to keep shuttle on the pad during the weather event > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > So they have decided to roll back. If you look at how Ernesto is moving with respect to the model predictions, it's not even close. It's at or outside the range (bounds) of predicted tracks. Not even close to the little black line in the middle of the range. SignatureCraig Fink Courtesy E-Mail Welcome @ WeBeGood@GMail.Com >> whether it is save to keep shuttle on the pad during the weather event > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > >So they have decided to roll back. At the current rate of the groundtrack's eastward migration, it looks like Ernesto will pass the Cape well offshore. They might be able to avoid the rollback. Brian >>> whether it is save to keep shuttle on the pad during the weather event >> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > like Ernesto will pass the Cape well offshore. They might be able to > avoid the rollback. Ernesto on Cuban radar. http://www.insmet.cu/asp/genesis.asp?TB0=PLANTILLAS&TB1=RADARES http://www.insmet.cu/asp/genesis.asp?TB0=PLANTILLAS&TB1=RADAR&TB2=../Radar/04Cam aguey/cmwMAXw01a.gif SignatureCraig Fink Courtesy E-Mail Welcome @ WeBeGood@GMail.Com > The last was in 1993. Improved engines since then make it unlikely > nowadays. Most last minute delays in the last decade have been for... > wait for it... the weather. Actually the last was in 1994 - August 18th, 1994 - STS-68 aborted at T-1 second :-) Tim, email me directly at jameseoberg@houston.rr.com if you'd like to share insights safely. >>> So how soon do they have to decide to roll back inside? >> [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > is a Walmart in Titusville and we will get whatever else we need from > there. Ahh schedule pressure will cause all sorts of sad side effects:( Contiuning to try to launch is going to cost us another crew...... >>>> So how soon do they have to decide to roll back inside? >>> [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >> is a Walmart in Titusville and we will get whatever else we need from >> there. Latest as of this morning is no launch attempt Tuesday, prep for roll back decision to be made on actual roll back Tuesday. ===[George R. Kasica]=== +1 262 677 0766 President +1 206 374 6482 FAX Netwrx Consulting Inc. Jackson, WI USA http://www.netwrx1.com georgek@netwrx1.com ICQ #12862186 > Tim, email me directly at > jameseoberg@houston.rr.com if > you'd like to share insights safely. I was just being facetious with Haller. Hell, even working there I still find out as much stuff from spaceflightnow as I do from work. |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.