STS-127 Shuttle Mission to the International Space Station Launches Wednesday 23:03pm
- Thread starter Cosimo
- Start date
Beat me to it - just. 
Roll on the 11th then and hope they can find and fix it.
As previously stated, they're hopeful for an LRO/LCROSS launch tomorrow. It's not the same, but if you're into watching giant roman candles (without the explosions, please) it's better than nothing.
Roll on the 11th then and hope they can find and fix it.
As previously stated, they're hopeful for an LRO/LCROSS launch tomorrow. It's not the same, but if you're into watching giant roman candles (without the explosions, please) it's better than nothing.
Just been looking through Mark Polansky's Twitter log (or whatever you call it), and an interesting point was raised (by a conspiracist, but we'll forgive him). Endeavour was originally tasked with STS-400 Launch-on-need rescue for the STS-125 mission to Hubble. It's not unreasonable to consider the possibility that this leak would have happened then too. What would they have done?
I guess we'll never know. That's just as well really.
I guess we'll never know. That's just as well really.
Live coverage of LRO/LCROSS launch has just started on NASA TV.
Launch opportunities: 10.12pm, 10.22pm, 10.32pm
Edit - possible chance of thunderstorms within 10nm (no surprise there - it's Florida).
Launch opportunities: 10.12pm, 10.22pm, 10.32pm
Edit - possible chance of thunderstorms within 10nm (no surprise there - it's Florida).
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One hour to launch of LRO/LCROSS, but the Floridian weather is not playing ball (again). This is the problem STS-127 is going to have to deal with next month as well (early launches are much easier than late launches at this time of year).
Fingers crossed.
Fingers crossed.
STS-127 GUCP leak update:
NASA engineers believe they've found the "smoking gun" - a misalignment between the GUCP and external tank that they'd already thought they'd fixed during stacking. Turns out that engineers had overestimated the required tolerances leading to unacceptable shearing forces being applied to the GUCP.
New shims and an alternative type of seal have been installed on the GUCP and a tanking test is in progress. The work appears to have been successful and no leaks have been detected.
NASA will hold a press conference at 6PM to confirm the findings. Hopefully "lesson learned" and they can go fix the tanks for the remainder of the shuttle missions.
Current planned launch date: July 12th at 00:39 BST
NASA engineers believe they've found the "smoking gun" - a misalignment between the GUCP and external tank that they'd already thought they'd fixed during stacking. Turns out that engineers had overestimated the required tolerances leading to unacceptable shearing forces being applied to the GUCP.
New shims and an alternative type of seal have been installed on the GUCP and a tanking test is in progress. The work appears to have been successful and no leaks have been detected.
NASA will hold a press conference at 6PM to confirm the findings. Hopefully "lesson learned" and they can go fix the tanks for the remainder of the shuttle missions.
Current planned launch date: July 12th at 00:39 BST
Work is progressing towards a launch on Saturday night/early Sunday morning (00:39 BST).
Weather currently isn't looking too friendly, however. Typical Florida summer afternoon thunderstorms.
Probability of no-go due to weather:
Saturday - 60%
Sunday - 40%
Monday - 30%
Weather currently isn't looking too friendly, however. Typical Florida summer afternoon thunderstorms.
Probability of no-go due to weather:
Saturday - 60%
Sunday - 40%
Monday - 30%
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They said in the press conference that it was expected to be bad today. If there's a strike on the launch pad then there might be a problem, but that doesn't happen very often as the lightning masts take the brunt.