SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Whatever you guys say there. The risk management at NASA has often been suspect and this was a whopper of a risky decision. Let's hope it turned out ok.
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Meanwhile, NASA's 2024 budget request was updated to include a humongous tarp.
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Nice little demo.

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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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There's a lot of motivation to light that candle, but damn, *that's* a whopper of a risky decision to discount those high winds. Godspeed Artemis I.
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Even AccuWeather dunking now...

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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Kraken wrote: Thu Nov 10, 2022 7:10 pm Meanwhile, NASA's 2024 budget request was updated to include a humongous tarp.
:lol:
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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My father said that anything is interesting if you bother to read about it - Michael C. Harrold
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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NASA gives the OK for Artemis launch after rocket endures Nicole
NASA's Jim Free confirmed during an afternoon teleconference on Friday that the scheduled Nov. 16 Artemis I launch is still a go, despite the rocket receiving some minor damage from Hurricane Nicole.

“Right now, there’s nothing preventing us from getting to the 16th," he said of the uncrewed Artemis I mission.

During the 3 p.m. EST teleconference with reporters, Free said that NASA officials had meetings last week about rolling the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft back to Launch Pad 39B before Nicole was even formed, saying that at that time the wind speeds were supposed to be much lower.

Once the 322-foot rocket and its spacecraft were on the launch pad on, Nov. 4, they had meetings about the pros and cons of rolling them back to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) as they monitored the storm system, Free said, who is the NASA Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Development.

“We had predictions then that the storm’s winds were going to be high, but still within our certification limits,” he explained of the more than two-hour meeting NASA had about rolling back Artemis in the VAB.



He did admit damage was detected on the vehicle and that engineers would inspect the $4.1 billion Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft.

Some room temperature vulcanizing (a sealant or caulk that he mentioned in his tweet) was loose on the Orion and there has been discussion of just snipping it off and determining the risk iof not replacing it, Free said.

An umbilical to the Orion came off its tray, but a team of people, including a veteran, moved it back to where it needed to be, Free said, adding that water got into the crew access arm and it will be dealt with.

In addition to a tear in the engine rain covers that will be fixed, Free said workers realized that one of the electrical umbilicals on the hydrogen tail service mass unit is having issues.

“We do have an issue on the ground side of one of the electrical umbilicals on the hydrogen tail service mass unit that was exhibiting some erratic signals," he said. "The team is out at the pad, taking out that apart and doing some visual inspection, figuring out what the issue is there and what we might need to do in terms of replacing that hardness. We do have a backup harness. It looks like we’d be able to use if it needs to be replaced."

Despite the minor damage, Free said the vehicle is in pretty good condition and engineers will begin to power it up on Friday in preparation for next week's launch.

It was because of Nicole that NASA was forced to push the fourth launch attempt date from Nov. 14 to Nov. 16. But Free said that if backups are needed, they still have Nov. 19 and 25.
Well, I'm out of town on the 16th (celebrating our 43th anniversary :dance:) so I'd prefer a launch attempt on the 19th, thank you. And please not on the 25th, the day after Thanksgiving, it will be mobbed around here :grund:
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Only a few minutes away from a rare Falcon 9 launch that will not recover the booster.

Last edited by jztemple2 on Mon Nov 14, 2022 2:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Details About X-37B Payload Adapter Revealed After Record-Setting Mission


For the first time, we’ve got to see the U.S. Space Force’s top-secret X-37B reusable spaceplane together with its service module, a bolt-on payload package that boosts the number of missions that this shadowy uncrewed orbital platform can undertake. The photo disclosure came soon after X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-6, or OTV-6 — signaling its sixth mission — returned to Earth after a record 908 days (or roughly two and a half years) spent in orbit.
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Booster 7 resumes static fire testing as SpaceX ramps up Starship production
Booster 7 is set to resume its static fire test campaign as soon as Monday with a short firing of half of its engines in what is hoped to be the significant event before the long-awaited 33-engine static fire test. This milestone will put the Super Heavy booster one step closer to being ready for Starship’s first orbital flight.


Image

Meanwhile...
Over in Florida, progress is continuing at the Starship facilities at KSC.

Image
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Managers Give “Go” to Proceed Toward Launch, Countdown Progressing
Artemis I managers convened Monday afternoon to review the status of countdown operations as well as two open technical items, and gave a “go” to proceed toward launch Wednesday, Nov 16. The two-hour window for launch opens at 1:04 a.m. EST.

Engineers examined detailed analysis of caulk on a seam between an ogive on Orion’s launch abort system and the crew module adapter and potential risks if it were to detach during launch. The mission management team determined there is a low likelihood that if additional material tears off it would pose a critical risk to the flight.
.
Technicians also completed replacing a component of an electrical connector on the hydrogen tail service mast umbilical. While swapping the component did not fully fix the issue, engineers have redundant sources of information supplied through the connector.
Sadly I will be out of town. Oh well, maybe I'll be in town for the next launch... whenever that might be :roll:
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Oddly, even though we are only about fifteen hours before the planned Artemis I launch, our local news channels haven't said boo about expected crowds, traffic jams, etc. And the county emergency management's Facebook page has only posted about the restricted areas offshore as a reminder to boaters. For the last two (it was two, wasn't it?) launch attempts we had multiple stories and postings about traffic and crowds. Maybe the thought is that between the early morning launch time and the "once bitten, twice shy" attitude about going out to try once again to see a launch, it is anticipated that the number of visitors won't be much beyond normal.
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Yeah, you won't get hordes of people for a 1 a.m. launch that will probably just be scrubbed.

I read an argument from an MIT rocket scientist who blamed Congress's mandate to use space shuttle technology for 46% of the STS's cost and performance difficulties. That's such a precise number that it must be true. :wink: Hydrogen is the tiniest atom there is; it's a bitch to handle and it's going to leak. The Saturn V used kerosene, which packs less energy but you can pump at the local Sunoco.
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Kraken wrote: Tue Nov 15, 2022 2:52 am
I read an argument from an MIT rocket scientist who blamed Congress's mandate to use space shuttle technology for 46% of the STS's cost and performance difficulties. That's such a precise number that it must be true. :wink: Hydrogen is the tiniest atom there is; it's a bitch to handle and it's going to leak. The Saturn V used kerosene, which packs less energy but you can pump at the local Sunoco.
I know I heard that a lot over the years from engineering management. It doesn't save money when you are trying to use it and design around it. Congress trying to be engineers, they have a hard enough time being politicians...
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Now up to 14 engines firing on SH tests....

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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Kraken wrote: Tue Nov 15, 2022 2:52 am Yeah, you won't get hordes of people for a 1 a.m. launch that will probably just be scrubbed.

I read an argument from an MIT rocket scientist who blamed Congress's mandate to use space shuttle technology for 46% of the STS's cost and performance difficulties. That's such a precise number that it must be true. :wink: Hydrogen is the tiniest atom there is; it's a bitch to handle and it's going to leak. The Saturn V used kerosene, which packs less energy but you can pump at the local Sunoco.
Saturn used hydrogen on the upper stages, kerosene on only the first stage. And it's not really kerosene, it's RP1, which is a very refined version of kerosene. The Falcon 9 uses RP1, but the big booster and Starship will use cryogenic methane.
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

Post by malchior »

Lassr wrote: Tue Nov 15, 2022 8:59 am
Kraken wrote: Tue Nov 15, 2022 2:52 am
I read an argument from an MIT rocket scientist who blamed Congress's mandate to use space shuttle technology for 46% of the STS's cost and performance difficulties. That's such a precise number that it must be true. :wink: Hydrogen is the tiniest atom there is; it's a bitch to handle and it's going to leak. The Saturn V used kerosene, which packs less energy but you can pump at the local Sunoco.
I know I heard that a lot over the years from engineering management. It doesn't save money when you are trying to use it and design around it. Congress trying to be engineers, they have a hard enough time being politicians...
I wish it was about them trying to be engineers or trying to save money. At least that'd be an honest failure. It was neither of these things.
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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#soitbegins



For our FlOOridians:

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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Starting to look like this thing may actually go tonight.

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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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And me over on the west coast of Florida :?. The launch time is way past my bedtime :roll: but I might stay up till they scrub :wink:
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Be nice. :P
It's almost as if people are the problem.
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Isgrimnur wrote: Tue Nov 15, 2022 9:44 pm Be nice. :P
I just think it was very rude on someone's part to try to launch while I was out of town :wink:
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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I served on a few red teams in my time :dance:
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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NASA launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson has given a "go" for the red team to drive out to Launch Complex 39B to troubleshoot an issue with a leaky hydrogen replenishment valve on the SLS Mobile Launcher. Two technicians and a safety official will enter the pad in two vehicles and enter a compartment near the side of the the mobile launch platform to torque packing nuts on the replenishment valve area.

This is a "hazardous operation," says Derrol Nail, NASA's launch countdown commentator. The red team members are trained to work near the fully fueled rocket to resolve technical issues during the countdown.
What, no engineer? They are doomed to fail!! :doh:
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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One of the techs is Bruce Willis. They'll be fine.
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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NASA says the red team at pad 39B is taking a little longer than expected to complete their troubleshooting, which involves torquing bolts around a leaky hydrogen replenishment valve on the mobile launch platform at the base of the Artemis 1 moon rocket.
We did that a couple of times on Shuttle. Must have the same leaky valves, which actually came from the Apollo program.
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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I have to make the game/no game call within the next half-hour. If you're going to scrub, NASA, do it now.

(Actually, I just remembered that I have a phone and a laptop sitting three feet away, so I can do both!)
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Now they are saying one of the down range radar sites is down due to failed network equipment. They are repairing at the moment.
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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malchior wrote: Wed Nov 16, 2022 1:08 am Now they are saying one of the down range radar sites is down due to failed network equipment. They are repairing at the moment.
I did not have 'failed Ethernet switch' on my bingo card tonight.
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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The live stream just talked through the switch replacement. They'll need to re-certify the system post-fix because it is critical to the mission.

Edit: Apparently the switch is replaced so they are running through the verification process.
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Eh, delays. Tomorrow is my day to work onsite. If it goes, it will be a fun day, but damn will I be tired. 5 hours until my alarm goes off....
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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NASA's Mission Management Team will be polled in a couple of minutes for their readiness to enter into the terminal countdown. The launch team believes they are just a few minutes from completing all of the countdown preparations. A target launch time between 1:45 a.m. and 2 a.m. EST remains possible.
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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They just restarted the clock - estimating around 1:47 EST liftoff.
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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T-9 and counting
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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And a successful launch, SRB burn and sep, full duration core stage burn and then sep. All good so far so I'm going back to sleep :shhh:
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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Aw crap, I shut down the NASA feed on my phone when I thought it was off for tonight. Oh well, godspeed to the mannequins of Artemis I.
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Re: SPACE - random thread about space stuff

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I dozed off a little after 1 AM, woke up at 2 AM and checked the NASA Twitch channel to confirm that I missed the launch, then went back to sleep.
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