Ottimo book fotografico Albyz…
Mi piace l’idea del diario della preparazione. Keep goin’.
So che è già stato pubblicato in un apposito thread… ma inserisco qui la parte dedicata alla missione in oggetto:
NASA's Space Shuttle Processing Status Report: S06-008NASA’s space shuttle fleet is housed and processed at Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Mission: STS-121 - 18th International Space Station Flight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3
Launch Date: No earlier than May 10, 2006
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical milesFinal closeouts continue on Discovery in preparation for its roll over from Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3 to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). Leak checks of the liquid oxygen system on space shuttle main engines No. 2 and 3 were successfully completed.
On March 4, space shuttle technicians inside a work platform device, called a bridge bucket, accidentally bumped into Discovery’s remote manipulator system, or shuttle arm. The bridge bucket was being used in the payload bay to clean up pieces of glass from a broken heat lamp. That accident caused pieces of glass to fall into the payload bay.
Initial inspections showed two indentations in the arm’s outer bumper, a honeycombed structure made of epoxy designed to protect it. One of the indentations is 0.115 inches deep and 1 inch long. The second indentation is 0.035 inches deep and 0.5 inches long. Inspections of the forward indentation were completed Thursday night, and no issues were found. The second indentation will be inspected today.
External Tank
Final closeouts continue in the checkout cell of the VAB on the external tank that will fly with Discovery. The tank is designated ET-119. An “all systems” electrical checkout was conducted on the tank approximately one week prior to shipment from NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans to Kennedy.
Technicians noted a minimal difference from the expected reading on liquid hydrogen engine cutoff sensor No. 3. The sensors indicate whether the tank still has fuel during liftoff. While the reading was within acceptable limits, additional data evaluation is needed before the Space Shuttle Program makes any decisions regarding flight rationale.
A series of external tank wind tunnel tests began this week and will continue for several weeks. Analysis of the testing will be ongoing.
Visto che non ne ho ancora sentito parlare sul forum vi inoltro questo
Chris Bergin – More ET issues, STS-121 heading to July
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?id=4362 // 3/11/2006 1:14:00 PM //
Following the news that a change-out of the LH2 ECO (Engine Cut Off) sensors is required - ultimately ending the opportunity to launch Shuttle Discovery in the May window - another problem with External Tank (ET-119) has come to light today.
Sources are revealing that an issue has arisen with the tank’s LOX vent and relief valve, with procedures being evaluated on replacing the valve - adding to numerous issues surrounding Discovery’s second Return to Flight test mission and NASA’s ever-changing 17 flight manifest.
The exact nature of the problem with the V/R valve is related to data that points to concerns that the valve may be ‘a little leaky’ - with LOX tank pressure decreases noted, following shipping. The change-out understood to be ‘highly likely’ but not certain - according to sources.
While the change-out of the ECOs is expected to start soon, the replacement of the vent and relief valve alone may not have been crucial to the May window - given it is far less of a problem to access on the ET.
The ECO change-out, however, is a much longer process, given the delicate process required with the procedure, ensuring the surrounding internal mechanics of the ET are not harmed during the change-out, added to the longer process of TPS (thermal protection system) repair, once the process has been completed.
The ET - currently vertical in the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Facility) checkout cell - has to be carefully placed back, horizontally, on the transporter that carried it into the VAB. Once horizontal, Lockheed technicians can then carry out the TPS repair in the access hatch area - post ECO sensor change-out - replacing they foam removed to enter the tank through the aft access hatch.
Following TPS repair and certification, the tank will need to be raised horizontal again, ready for mating with the SRBs (Solid Rocket Boosters), or back to checkout or integration cell. This has to be the process - scheduled as 17 days according to several sources - given Lockheed do not have a process for TPS repair on an ET in the VAB whilst vertical.
speriamo che questo non ritardi ulteriormente la missione.
Tutto questo “su e giù” dell’ ET non credo sia molto salutare
Io ho una strana sensazione 
Oggi alle 4 PM EST ci sarà una conferenza di aggiornamento sul programma, non penso per buone notizie, visto l’ultimo periodo… 
Aspettiamo e vediamo…
NASA Announces Space Shuttle Program Update TodaySpace Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale briefs the media today at 4 p.m. EST from NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston. The briefing about the next space shuttle mission, STS-121, airs live on NASA TV.
Questo è il titolo dell’anteprima sulla homepage nasa…
New July Launch Window for Next Shuttle Mission
E’ ufficiale 1° Luglio nuova prima data utile…
C’era da aspettarselo…
RELEASE: 06-092NASA Announces New Window For Next Space Shuttle Mission
NASA announced today July 1 to 19, 2006, is the new launch planning window for Space Shuttle Discovery’s mission (STS-121). The window gives the agency time to do additional engineering work and analysis to ensure a safe flight for Discovery and its crew.
Space Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale made the announcement during a news conference from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The decision to target July followed a two-day meeting on the external fuel tank’s engine cutoff (ECO) sensors. The sensors indicate whether the tank still has fuel during liftoff. During testing, one of the four ECO sensors had a slightly different reading than is expected. Shuttle officials have decided they will remove and replace all four liquid hydrogen sensors.
“We’ve been saying for months that our engineering work would determine when we fly our next mission. Targeting July is the right choice in order to make smart decisions,” said Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administrator for Space Operations.
Other issues factored into the decision to adjust the STS-121 planning window:
* Testing and analysis are required on the shuttle's modified external tank. The testing will help verify the tank is safe to fly without the protuberance air load (PAL) foam ramp. The PAL ramp was removed after a large piece of foam fell from that area during Discovery's July 2005 launch. More analysis is needed to decide whether changes are needed on the tank's ice frost foam ramps. * Repair work on the shuttle's robotic arm must be completed. Technicians on a work platform accidentally bumped the arm last week, causing a tiny crack. The arm will be removed for repair.The STS-121 mission will take Shuttle Commander Steve Lindsey and six crew members to the International Space Station. This is the second mission in the Return to Flight sequence to evaluate new heat shield inspection and repair techniques and to deliver supplies and equipment to the station.
Si, era nell’aria…
Beh, molto molto meglio partire tardi ma al sicuro, visto che un altro serio problema al sistema STS vorrebbe dire al 90% la chiusura del programma delle navette spaziali
Sono pienamente daccordo anch’io.
Meglio un ulteriore ritardo piuttosto che rischiare.
Come volevasi dimostrare… tutto quello accaduto negli ultimi tempi non poteva che portare i responsabili della NASA a questa decisione.
In fondo concordo anche io che due mesi in più daranno maggiore sicurezza e soprattutto non graveranno di stress da “data di lancio” i tecnici addetti alle varie riparazioni.
Certo che ora rispettare i tre lanci in un periodo da luglio a dicembre diventa nuovamente complicato…
Sono anch’io per il “Meglio tardi che mai”… 
Si accettano scommesse: cosa verra’ tagliato stavolta per pagare i ritardi?
Si accettano scommesse: cosa verra' tagliato stavolta per pagare i ritardi?
Speriamo nulla…
Nel bilancio dovrebbero essere quantomeno stimati dei “margini” in cui giocarsi queste cifre.
Almeno spero!
Certo che ora rispettare i tre lanci in un periodo da luglio a dicembre diventa nuovamente complicato...
Visto i precedenti, direi impossibile …
State pur certi che con questo ritardo , ci siamo giocati i tre lanci previsti per quest’anno.
Se andiamo avanti con i ritardi, erò, rischiamo di arrivare al 2010 senza aver fatto tutte le missioni previste.
In questo caso cosa si farà? una proroga o tagli?
In questo caso cosa si farà? una proroga o tagli?
Tagli … purtroppo …
Status Report relativo al Discovery:
Mission: STS-121 - 18th International Space Station Flight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3 Launch Date: Launch Planning Window July 1-19, 2006 Launch Pad: 39B Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical milesOn Tuesday, Space Shuttle Program management announced Discovery’s new launch planning window of July 1 to 19. This window provides the agency time to change the shuttle’s external fuel tank engine cutoff sensors and to perform additional engineering analysis to ensure a safe flight for Discovery and its crew.
Discovery’s damaged remote manipulator system (shuttle arm) was removed from the payload bay on Tuesday. The lower section of the arm is en route to Canada today, so repairs can begin on the damaged section.
Leak checks were successfully completed on all three space shuttle main engines, and thermal protection system foaming operations around the engines are under way. Removal and replacement of windows Number 3 and 5 have begun. Although the windows in the vehicle meet specification, the new ones have been tested to a higher pressure.
Se eventuali ritardi provocassero degli slittamenti di lancio e , magari, uno sfociare oltre l’anno 2010, se si decidesse di cancellare le missioni in ritardo, si avrebbe così un mancato completamento della ISS.
Cosa si farebbe allora?
Tutti i componenti della ISS rimasti a Terra, verrebbero messi a prendere polvere?
In tal caso non converrebbe prolungare il tempo dei lanci fino al completamento della stessa?
Non sarebbe stato meglio tagliare fondi da altri progetti e proseguire con i voli Shuttle, magari solo due all’anno, fino all’arrivo del CEV?
Credo che la NASA abbia già calcolato i possibili ritardi. Infatti secondo la nuova tabella dei lanci l’ultimo sarebbe per settembre 2009. I n questo modo rimane ancora un anno di margine per coprire i possibili ritardi (sempre che finalmente a luglio si parta…)
NASA's Space Shuttle Processing Status Report: S06-010NASA’s space shuttle fleet is housed and processed at Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Mission: STS-121 - 18th International Space Station Flight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3
Launch Date: Launch Planning Window July 1-19, 2006
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical milesTechnicians continue to process Discovery and close out completed areas for its launch to the International Space Station. The seven-member STS-121 crew was at Kennedy on Monday for the station crew equipment interface test. This standard test provides the crew with hands-on experiences with equipment that will be used on orbit.
Final closeouts of the space shuttle main engines continue with thermal protection system foaming operations around the engines. Technicians removed and replaced windows No. 3 and 5. Work continues in the payload bay in preparation for reinstallation of the remote manipulator system, or shuttle arm. The repaired arm is scheduled to return to Kennedy from the vendor in Canada in early April.