Updates STS-133 Updates

[Orbinaut Pete]

Bad news folks. IPR-47 has become a larger issue, with a worst case scenario requiring a rollback to the VAB, destacking, and Orbiter rollback to the OPF. This would push the STS-133 launch into Feb. 2011, which would in turn affect the launch dates of STS-134 & 135.

Spaceflight Now: "Technicians working on tiny fuel leak in Discovery pod".

NASASpaceFlight: "STS-133: Discovery to undergo unique leak repair to avoid rollback".

 

[Kyle]

Might actually be good news IMO if you think about it. STS-134's delay because of AMS got STS a 5 month extension, STS-133 to February 2011, STS-134 to June 2011, STS-135 to Fall 2011 (October?) if so, that's a 13 month extension from what we were facing a year ago!

Smoother transition to DIRECT/SLS.

 

[orb]

CBS News Space: Engineers troubleshoot propellant leak aboard shuttle Discovery (UPDATED).

Spaceflight Now: Discovery's fuel leak stopped during overnight work:

A small fuel leak in the plumbing used by the shuttle Discovery's maneuvering rockets apparently stopped during work overnight to double-check the torque on six bolts in a suspect flange. There were no obvious problems with the bolts and it's possible increased pressure in the line may have helped seat internal seals.

But officials said engineers planned additional tests to make sure the system is safe for launch Nov. 1 or whether more invasive repairs might be needed.
...

---------- Post added at 22:01 ---------- Previous post was at 21:54 ----------

Florida Today - The Flame Trench: Discovery fuel leak appears to have stopped.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Spaceflight Now: "NASA managers order seal replacement inside Discovery".

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Some NASA TV videos:

Six STS-133 Astronauts Ready for Final Flight of Discovery.​

Veteran Crew to Fly Next Shuttle Mission.​

 

[orb]

NASASpaceFlight: STS-133: Engineers press forward with flange seal replacement.

---------- Post added at 14:38 ---------- Previous post was at 08:47 ----------

Florida Today: Shuttle set for fuel line repairs.

Florida Today - The Flame Trench: NASA will replace seals to ensure Discovery fuel leak stopped.

 

[IronRain]

Nice video of Space Shuttle Discovery:

 

[orb]

SPACE.com: NASA Fixing Fuel Leak on Space Shuttle Discovery.

 

[Star Voyager]

THE INTREPID VOYAGERS!

http://space.flatoday.net/2010/10/nasa-previews-final-flight-of-discovery.html

Meanwhile:

http://space.flatoday.net/2010/10/nasa-sure-miracle-workers-can-pull-off.html

 

[orb]

CBS News Space: NASA managers optimistic seal replacement will eliminate shuttle fuel leak /
Spaceflight Now: NASA optimistic shuttle seal changeout will fix leak.

---------- Post added at 03:23 ---------- Previous post was at 00:21 ----------

NASA: Shuttle Discovery’s Flight Directors Available for Interviews:

HOUSTON -- NASA Flight Directors Bryan Lunney from Houston and Royce Renfrew from Marble Falls, Texas, are available for live satellite interviews from 6 to 7 a.m. CDT Thursday, Oct. 28.

Lunney and Renfrew will discuss space shuttle Discovery's STS-133 space shuttle mission to the International Space Station, targeted to launch Nov. 1. This will be the final flight for Discovery, NASA's oldest and most historic shuttle.

...

The NASA Television Live Interview Media Outlet (LIMO) channel will be used for the interviews. The channel is a digital satellite C-band downlink by uplink provider Americom. It is on satellite AMC 3, transponder 9C, located at 87 degrees west, downlink frequency 3865.5 Mhz based on a standard C-band, horizontal downlink polarity, FEC is 3/4, data rate is 6.0 Mbps, symbol rate is 4.3404 Msps, transmission DVB-S, 4:2:0.

B-roll footage of preparations for the STS-133 mission will begin airing at 5:30 a.m. on the NASA TV LIMO channel.

The interviews also will air live on the NASA TV public and media channels.
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CNN:

• Space shuttle Discovery crew ready for final mission
• NASA crew prepares final shuttle mission - Video

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WFTV.com: Astronauts Hope Storm Doesn't Delays Launch:

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. -- NASA officials are hoping Tropical Storm Richard doesn't interfere with shuttle Discovery's launch in less than two weeks. NASA officials answered questions Thursday about the upcoming launch.

Lead space shuttle flight director Bryan Lunney, who is flying on his 14th mission with Discovery, said the astronauts are ready to go and don't want any delays.

...

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

The STS-133 press kit is now online! (PDF, 3.23 MB.)

 

[orb]

NASASpaceFlight: STS-133: Sunday night targeted for crossfeed flange seal R&R task:

Engineers will begin the removal and replacement of the two seals on Discovery’s Right OMS (Orbital Maneuvering System) crossfeed flange late on Sunday, with confirmation of a nominal system expected sometime on Monday. Should all go to plan, the Interim Problem Report (IPR-47) will be removed in time to allow managers to press forward with the confirmation of a November 1 launch date target.
...

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now: Seals replaced in shuttle Discovery's fuel line flange:

Working through the weekend, engineers drained toxic propellants from the shuttle Discovery's orbital maneuvering system rocket pods, dried out the lines, disassembled a fuel-line flange Saturday and replaced two internal seals in a bid to stop an on-again, off-again leak.

The seal replacement work was completed just after 7 p.m. EDT Saturday (2300 GMT). After reassembling the flange, engineers planned to begin reloading rocket fuel starting at 3 a.m. (0700 GMT) Sunday.

...

 

[DaveS]

FRR: NASA and contractor managers voted unanimously to set space shuttle Discovery’s STS-133 launch date for Nov. 1 at 4:40 p.m. EDT.

 

[IronRain]

Go Discovery!

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

SPACE.com:
• Humanoid Robot Hitching Space Ride on Shuttle Discovery.
• Final Flight of Space Shuttle Discovery Set for Nov. 1 Launch.

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Spaceflight Now: "Shuttle Discovery cleared for blastoff next Monday".

NASASpaceFlight: "STS-133: Agency FRR approval for Nov. 1 launch date – SRB review".

---------- Post added 26th Oct 2010 at 06:49 PM ---------- Previous post was 25th Oct 2010 at 09:36 PM ----------

NASA TV Video: NASA Sets Official Launch Date for Shuttle Discovery.​

Also, check out these amazing 360° panoramas of Discovery!

---------- Post added 27th Oct 2010 at 03:44 PM ---------- Previous post was 26th Oct 2010 at 06:49 PM ----------

My latest NASASpaceFlight article - includes updates on ISS ECLSS for STS-133.

Progress M-08M launches – Managers update status of ISS life support.


Also per NASASpaceFlight, due to the DAM (Debris Avoidance Manoeuvre) performed by ISS yesterday, Discovery's launch time has been refined to 8:40:27 PM GMT.

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STS-133 NASA TV Schedule Rev. 0.

The schedule is pretty good for us Brits - for once! :thumbup:

 

[orb]

NASASpaceFlight: After 26 Years, Workhorse Discovery Stands Ready for Final Mission.

 

[garyw]

a minor piece of trivia via flightaware - This is the flight of the astronaunt crew to KTTS (NASA landing strip) at KSC:

Ident Type From Depart Arrive
NASA955 T38 Ellington Field (KEFD) 12:09 CDT 14:52 EDT
NASA918 T38 Ellington Field (KEFD) 12:12 CDT 14:53 EDT
NASA915 T38 Ellington Field (KEFD) 12:15 CDT 14:56 EDT
NASA945 GLF2 Ellington Field (KEFD) 12:27 CDT 15:20 EDT
NASA946 GLF2 Ellington Field (KEFD) 12:36 CDT 15:30 EDT
NASA907 T38 Ellington Field (KEFD) 12:54 CDT 15:43 EDT

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

The crew have arrived at KSC! :thumbup:

SPACE.com: "Space Shuttle Discovery's Last Crew Arrives at Launch Site".


Hi-res photos of the arrival are available at the KSC Media Gallery.

Also, check out this awesome video from Greg "Box" Johnson via Twitter - a T-38 flyover of LC-39A!

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SPACE.com: "My Date With R2: Reporter Meets NASA's Strong, Silent Space Robot".

Swan Song Flight of Space Shuttle Discovery to Carry Two Payloads Built by CU-Boulder.

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now: Discovery astronauts fly to Florida for Monday's launch.

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Uh-oh! Another leaks.

Spaceflight Now: Nitrogen, helium leaks encountered on Discovery:

Engineers are troubleshooting two leaks, one helium and one nitrogen, in the plumbing of the shuttle Discovery's right-side orbital maneuvering system rocket pod.

Discovery's countdown to launch on a space station resupply mission is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. today. Liftoff on the shuttle's 39th and final mission is targeted for 4:40:27 p.m. EDT (2040:27 GMT) Monday. The current launch window extends through Nov. 7.

It is not yet known what impact, if any, the two leaks might have on the countdown or launch. An engineering report said both are "under review" and engineers are meeting this morning to discuss repair options.

"This is not a huge deal, but we just have no cushion in the schedule," said a NASA official.

...

CBS News Space: Engineers troubleshoot helium, nitrogen leaks in shuttle rocket pod.

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Per Spaceflight Now's Mission Status Center:

1300 GMT (9:00 a.m. EDT)

Launch of space shuttle Discovery has been delayed one day to repair the leaks. The countdown sequence will begin at 2 p.m. EDT on Saturday, leading to blastoff on Tuesday at 4:17 p.m. EDT.

NASA plans a status briefing at 10 a.m. EDT and we'll stream it live.

---------- Post added at 15:15 ---------- Previous post was at 15:05 ----------

The target liftoff time is now Nov. 2, 2010, Tuesday at 4:17:56 p.m. EDT / 20:17:56 UTC. The day's overall 10-minute launch window runs from 4:12:56 to 4:22:56 p.m. / 20:12:56 - 20:22:56 UTC.

Docking is now targeted for November 4 at 12:10 p.m. EDT / 16:10 UTC.

Mission duration is planned to be 10 days, 18 hours and 48 minutes, leading to landing at Kennedy Space Center on November 13 at 11:08 a.m. EDT (?) (shouldn't it be EST by then?).

---------- Post added at 15:32 ---------- Previous post was at 15:15 ----------

Spaceflight Now: Nitrogen, helium leaks delay launch of shuttle Discovery:

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla.--NASA managers decided early Friday to delay launch of the shuttle Discovery from Monday to at least Tuesday -- election day in the United States -- because of work to fix two leaks, one helium and one nitrogen, in the plumbing of the orbiter's right-side orbital maneuvering system rocket pod.

The start of Discovery's countdown will slip one day to 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT) Saturday. Assuming the repair work goes smoothly, the shuttle could be ready for launch by Tuesday, at 4:17:56 p.m. (2017:56 GMT), but that remains to be seen. The current launch window extends through Nov. 7.

...

I didn't find it posted earlier, so there it is:

Here's calendar event for the launch updated with the new time of liftoff. Here, you can request a reminder for it, that will be sent via e-mail. Any eventual additional changes to the launch date will be updated appropriately in this calendar event.

 

[IronRain]

All those leaks makes me nervous :S