yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (09/25/89)
KSC SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING REPORT - MONDAY, SEPT. 25, 1989
STS-34 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - PAD 39-B
This weekend, workers successfully replaced a quick
disconnect for auxiliary power unit number one. A leak was
discovered at the disconnect when hydrazine was being loaded
aboard the orbiter about two weeks ago. The disconnect is between
the fill line and the APU 1 fuel tank in the orbiter's aft
compartment.
Early this morning, the payload bay doors were opened.
Preparations are underway to perform a partial interface
verification test to recertify electrical and data connections
between the Galileo/Inertial Upper Stage with the shuttle and
ground support systems.
Today, workers will verify connections between the launch
pad, orbiter and launch platform. Preparations are underway for
the first part of ordnance operations. The pad will be cleared
between midnight and 8 a.m. tomorrow for this activity.
Wednesday, the power reactant storage and distribution system
dewars at the launch pad will be filled with liquid hydrogen and
liquid oxygen.
Launch remains targeted for Oct. 12 at 1:29 p.m. Eastern
Time. The official launch date will be set at the conclusion of
the Flight Readiness Review scheduled for Oct. 2-3 here at KSC.
STS-33 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1
The payload bay is ready for cleaning operations with
rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building scheduled for less than
two weeks away. Hydraulic operations are planned this week
including a final cycle of the aerosurfaces and a brake anti-skid
test. A flight pressurization test of the main propulsion system
helium system is scheduled Thursday. Redundancy tests of the
orbiter's systems were performed Saturday.
STS-32 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OPF BAY 2
As a result of the inadvertant activation of the firex water
deluge system yesterday, workers are conducting detailed
inspections and assessments of all areas of Columbia today.
Cleanup activities are also underway. An investigation board has
been named to determine the cause of the incident.
STS-33 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB
Technicians are closing out the joints on the right and left
boosters for flight. Preparations to mate the external tank are
underway for first shift tomorrow. Alignment measurements were
taken of the solid rocket boosters this weekend.
STS-32 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB
The left aft booster was stacked over the weekend and
workers are connecting the umbilicals today. The left aft center
segment is scheduled for stacking the end of the week.mechtjm@tness7.UUCP (Tom Mecke ) (09/26/89)
In article <32507@ames.arc.nasa.gov> yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) writes: > As a result of the inadvertant activation of the firex water > deluge system yesterday, workers are conducting detailed > inspections and assessments of all areas of Columbia today. > Cleanup activities are also underway. An investigation board has > been named to determine the cause of the incident. What does this system do?
fireman@tippy.uucp (09/26/89)
Fire sprinkler system.
steve@nuchat.UUCP (Steve Nuchia) (09/27/89)
In article <238@tness7.UUCP> mechtjm@tness7.UUCP (Tom Mecke (512+222-7018)) writes: >In article <32507@ames.arc.nasa.gov> yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) writes: >> As a result of the inadvertant activation of the firex water >> deluge system yesterday, workers are conducting detailed >What does this system do? It sits around quietly for ten years or so. Then, when you least expect it, it dumps 10-year-old water onto your spacecraft. Just to see if you were paying attention. Seriously, it is basically just a sprinkler system. My friend in contamination control at the cape says there is some concern that the water had become acidic from sitting in the piping since it was installed, but other than that it shouldn't be a big deal. If the payload bay doors had been open though ... I haven't heard the real deal, but the way the news was talking made it sound like some meathead did this rather than good old mechanical failure. Anyone know the whole story? -- Steve Nuchia South Coast Computing Services uunet!nuchat!steve POB 270249 Houston, Texas 77277 (713) 964 2462 Consultation & Systems, Support for PD Software.
dsmith@hplabsb.HP.COM (David Smith) (09/28/89)
In article <15035@nuchat.UUCP> steve@nuchat.UUCP (Steve Nuchia) writes: >Seriously, it is basically just a sprinkler system. My friend in >contamination control at the cape says there is some concern that >the water had become acidic from sitting in the piping since it >was installed, but other than that it shouldn't be a big deal. I had presumed that there would be concern that if water soaked into the tiles, and didn't fully evaporate before re-entry, that flash evaporation could break tiles. I had read of such concerns before with respect to the shuttle sitting out in the rain. Is this truly a concern, or am I all wet? :-) -- David R. Smith, HP Labs dsmith@hplabs.hp.com (415) 857-7898
steve@nuchat.UUCP (Steve Nuchia) (09/28/89)
In article <5442@hplabsb.HP.COM> dsmith@hplabsb.UUCP (David Smith) writes: >I had presumed that there would be concern that if water soaked into >the tiles, and didn't fully evaporate before re-entry, that flash >evaporation could break tiles. I had read of such concerns before >with respect to the shuttle sitting out in the rain. Is this truly >a concern, or am I all wet? :-) My understanding of it is that the tiles, officially called the Thermal Protection System (in NASAese, if it doesn't have three words in its name you have to add "system") are designed to deal with rain as long as they are intact. There is concern about raindrops encountered aloft, either during atmospheric ascent or descent or ferry operations, causing pitting of the tile surface. The tiles are not homogenous by the way -- they consist of a non-porous ceramic "glaze" layer encapsulating a very porous ceramic inside. The tiles are laid over a backing that is basically a felt of some kind. Excess water in the felt could lead to steam explosions damaging tiles, as could steam explosions in individual tiles. Fortunately the whole system gets a good soaking in hard vacuum on a normal mission, which should make any water in it sublimate harmlessly. I don't know the numbers but without running the calculations carefully I'd be concerned that an abort during the first few orbits (or partial orbit) might carry a steam explosion risk. Such an abort could occur if the orbiter fails to achieve a safe orbit or for a medical emergency, for instance. I'd guess that the forces involved in flash evaporation of water at ordinary temperatures in vacuum would not be great enough to damage an otherwise nominal tile. -- Steve Nuchia South Coast Computing Services uunet!nuchat!steve POB 270249 Houston, Texas 77277 (713) 964 2462 Consultation & Systems, Support for PD Software.