Updates STS-135 Updates

[Kyle]

The #1 question:

When-is-the-freaking-appropriation-bill-going-to-come-to-pass!!!

They said by the end of the year and Congress is back in session, so I hope soon.

 

[orb]

Also quoted on NASA's future thread, but regarding this launch -

Orlando Sentinel: NASA budget funds third shuttle launch:

Draft legislation obtained by the Orlando Sentinel shows that NASA is set to get all but $90 million of the $19 billion proposed by President Barack Obama, more than enough to fund a third shuttle flight and ensure that about 4,000 Kennedy Space Center workers stay on the job likely into June when the orbiter fleet is scheduled to retire.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Florida Today: "$18.9 billion: House OKs a modest raise for NASA".

The House resolution contains nearly $1 billion for the shuttle program, which would have an extra flight in 2011.

And with that, I think the final hurdle (funding) is out of the way! GO 135! :thumbup:

 

[orb]

Florida Today - The Flame Trench: Last shuttle main engines installed at KSC :

Kennedy Space Center technicians this week installed a set of shuttle main engines for the last time.

The three Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne main engines were inserted into the back of Atlantis, which would fly the third and final shuttle mission next year if Congress approves the funding.

{...}

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

NASA TV Video: Shuttle's Main Engines Installed for Final Planned Flight.​

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Spaceflight Now: "Final set of shuttle main engines installed" (Photos).

Hi-res images are available at the KSC Media Gallery.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Space News: "Continuing Resolution Would Boost NASA’s Budget $186M".

The authorization act also directs NASA to fly an additional shuttle mission before retiring the fleet of orbiters next year. H.R. 3082 fully funds Obama’s nearly $1 billion request for the shuttle program in 2011, and adds $825 million to be used at the agency’s discretion for shuttle and other specific purposes, including launch complex development at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Wallops Island Flight Facility on Virginia’s eastern shore, and Orion and heavy-lift work.

Robinson says the $825 million added in the House bill is almost $200 million more than recommended in the 2010 NASA Authorization Act, and is enough to cover three shuttle missions next year: two that have long been on the manifest and the additional flight mandated by Congress.

“The authorization bill is very explicit. It says we shall fly the third flight,” she said. “So we would have to really not have a lot of money.”

Since Oct. 1, NASA has spent $357 million on the space shuttle program. Robinson estimates the program currently consumes a little less than $200 million per month, though NASA spokesman Joshua Buck said the figure tends to vary.

“There is no consistent monthly burn rate information,” Buck said in a Dec. 9 e-mail.

Robinson says shuttle spending has slowed since the budget year began. However, she noted that cracks discovered in Space Shuttle Discovery’s external tank in November, delaying that orbiter’s final mission to February at the earliest, will require repairs whose costs could drive up spending rates.

Ultimately, Robinson says the $1.814 billion recommended for shuttle in H.R. 3082 should be sufficient for three more flights in 2011.

 

[orb]

Florida Today - The Flame Trench: Senate releases draft omnibus bill language for NASA:

{...} $825 million for an additional Shuttle flight, if determined to be safe, and for launch infrastructure for the heavy lift rocket; {...}

 

[Kyle]

Only two more goals until STS-135's a reality.
1) Needs to be passed by the senate.
2) Signed by the President.

 

[orb]

NASASpaceFlight: STS-135: Downmass requests build with ISS interest in returning a BGA motor:

Although technically still a notional mission, should Atlantis provide the swansong to the Shuttle Program with STS-135, she’d be returning home full of downmass – ranging from a full Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), the failed Pump Module, a Pressurized Mating Adaptor (PMA-3) and also now potentially including the BRRM motor component of the 2A Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA).

{...}

With STS-133 slipping to early February, resulting in STS-134 moving to a placeholder of April, STS-135 could still remain on target to launch in late June – although NASA managers have made no secret of holding out hope they can launch STS-135 later in the summer, which would be beneficial for leaving the ISS in the best possible configuration for the post-Shuttle years.

The mission has already received its first program-level mission outline, with Atlantis manifested with carrying a MPLM (Multi-Purpose Logistics Module) and LMC (Lightweight Multi-Purpose Carrier) on a 11+1+2 day mission. This outline should expect to undergo refinements of the mission objectives via the Program Requirements Control Board (PRCB) meetings in the next few months.

However, fully utilizing STS-135 is not just related to the superior upmass the shuttle can provide, but also the downmass – the biggest hit the ISS will face in the coming years once the fleet has been retired.

{...}

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Timelapse video: the last shuttle main engines are installed.​

 

[Kyle]

Pete, any idea when the Senate will vote on the appropriations bill?

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Pete, any idea when the Senate will vote on the appropriations bill?

I'm afraid not, Kyle.

I'm not really a politics guy, but going by what I know of politicians, none of them will even be working now until at least mid-January! :lol:

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

SpaceRef: "NASA Internal Memo: Maintaining Capability to Conduct the STS-135 Mission".

The NASA Authorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-267) directs NASA to conduct the above referenced mission. As of this date, the Congress has not cleared final FY 2011 appropriations for the Federal government, including NASA. However, the FY 2011 Continuing Appropriations Act provides funding for most Federal departments and agencies, including NASA, through March 4, 2010, at FY 2010 enacted levels. Funding made available in this measure will enable NASA to work towards the STS-135 mission.

For this reason, I ask that you continue planning and preparations efforts to execute this mission in late June 2011 as currently planned. This includes maintaining the requisite workforce to safely conduct this mission and extending contracts if necessary. We must focus on STS-135 as a real mission as well as a Launch-On-Need capability for the STS-134. Without clarity in focus now we reduce the probability of safely executing this critical mission. The purpose of this memorandum is to provide clear direction for the teams. STS-135 is critical to health of the International Space Station.

Wooooo-Hooooo!!! :woohoo:

 

[Kyle]

STS-135's official?

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

STS-135's official?

Let's just say that it's unofficially official. :thumbup:

 

[Kyle]

I won't believe until its officially official! They have the approval, they have the funds apparently now according to Gerstenmaier so why don't they just say 'yep, lets go!'

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Florida Today's "The Flame Trench" Blog: "Bolden: third shuttle flight would be safe".

NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden today reiterated a commitment to fly a third shuttle mission this year and said the agency has determined the mission would be safe.

The 2010 NASA Authorization Act requests the flight pending an assessment of its safety, which Bolden said is not yet final.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Central Florida News 13: "NASA administrator confident STS-135 will fly".

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden pointed out the authorization act that was passed by the Congress says NASA "shall" fly another mission, designated STS-135. Shall is a strong word in law. It means no ifs, ands or buts. It will get done.

But doesn't the lack of a new funding bill put him in a bind?

Administrator Bolden says:

"No, we have planned for 135 for quite some time. When we found we would probably need an extra flight. And I call it buying down risk. As I said before, we really want to facilitate the success of the commercial entities, and if we can provide enough supplies on station to last over a period of time in case anything happens, then I think it buys down some of the risk and it improves the chances of the commercial entities being successful on time, or even sooner."

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Here's Bolden's comments on STS-135 from the AIAA conference yesterday:

The NASA Authorization Act of 2010 has recognized the importance to ISS of flying one more shuttle flight in addition to the two remaining on the manifest. We have looked at the safety aspects of that flight, and we have determined that this additional flight is as safe as previous flights and has adequate crew rescue capability if needed. We are currently planning to fly this additional flight, STS-135 – as the FY 2011 budget process sorts itself out.

Source (MS Word 2007 Document).