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Friday’s LATE Night Launch Now Set!
Photo credit: NASA TV
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Mission Managers to Meet Today at Noon
Thursday, August 27, 2009
8:13am EDT
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The testing of the liquid hydrogen fill and drain valve in shuttle Discovery’s main propulsion system is complete. The valve and its position indicator both operated normally during yesterday’s testing. And all leak checks were within specification.
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The evaluation of the low-level hydrogen leak detected in a tail service mast on the mobile launcher platform on Launch Pad 39A following Tuesday's launch scrub is complete, and no leaks were detected.
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All the test data will be brought to the mission management team for review at the noon EDT meeting. Mission managers also are scheduled to meet at 2:15pm to give the “Go - No Go” for tanking.
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If Discovery gets the “Go”, tanking commentary on NASA TV will begin at 2:45pm and fueling operations will start at approximately 3:00pm Launch commentary will begin tonight at 7:00pm.
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Discovery's seven astronauts are sleeping and will wake up for their launch day preps at 1:30pm.
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Shuttle Managers Target Discovery's Liftoff for Friday Night
1:28pm EDT
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The Mission Management Team has concluded with the decision to target launch for Friday, August 28th at 11:59pm EDT instead of 12:22am Friday morning.
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The additional time will allow teams to plan in case they see the samereading that happened with the liquid hydrogen fill and drain valve thatcaused Tuesday afternoon's launch scrub during tanking.
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The MMT will meet again on Friday at noon.
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A news conference will be held on NASA TV later this afternoon to discussthe decision.
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POST UPDATE:
Friday, August 28, 2009
9:03am EDT
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Countdown Resumes
The countdown for the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery's STS-128 mission is under way again. The count resumed at 8:34am EDT at the T-11 hour point with no issues being reported that could affect launch.
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The Rotating Service Structure on Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A was rolled away from Discovery this morning at 6:11am.
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NASA's Mission Management Team plans to meet at noon to review launch preparations and determine whether teams will continue to march toward a targeted liftoff tonight at 11:59pm.
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Weather is forecasted to be 60 percent "go" for external tank loading and 60 percent "go" for launch.
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Discovery Gets "Go" for Launch
1:29pm EDT
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The mission management team has approved launch teams to continue with the countdown toward an 11:59 p.m. EDT liftoff to start space shuttle Discovery's STS-128 mission to the International Space Station. Filling of Discovery's external fuel tank with propellants began at 2:45 p.m. after an initial "no-go" due to weather in the area violating constraints.
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The mission management team also reports that all the testing and analysis of Discovery's fill-and-drain valve during the last two days gives them a high degree of confidence the valve is working.
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The shuttle team has approved procedures in case there is a similar issue with the position sensor on the hydrogen fill-and-drain valve.
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The plan includes being able to open and close the valve, or cycle it, two times during the tanking process if the valve position indicator sensor doesn't work. Teams would use alternate means, including monitoring pressure in the system, to provide confidence the valve is closed for launch.
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For launch time, forecasters are calling for a 60 percent chance of favorable weather.
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The earliest the filling of Discovery's external fuel tank with 535,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen can begin is 2:34pm.
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NASA TV's tanking commentary will begin at 2:30pm and can be accessed at www.nasa.gov/ntv .
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3:23pm EDT
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Tanking Under Way For 11:59pm EDT Launch
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Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen are flowing into the gigantic orange external tank of space shuttle Discovery this afternoon at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The tanking operations began at 2:45pm EDT and it will take three hours to load the 500,000 gallons of propellants into the structure. The fuel will be consumed in 8 1/2 minutes as Discovery’s three main engines power the shuttle into orbit.
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Launch is scheduled for 11:59pm EDT tonight. Forecasters call for a 60 percent chance of acceptable conditions at launch time.
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The mission management team reported that all the testing and analysis of Discovery's fill-and-drain valve during the last two days gives them a high degree of confidence the valve is working. Procedures have been approved in case there is a similar issue with the position sensor on the hydrogen fill-and-drain valve.
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The plan includes being able to open and close the valve, or cycle it, two times during the tanking process if the valve position indicator sensor doesn't work. Teams would use alternate means, including monitoring pressure in the system, to provide confidence the valve is closed for launch..
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4:38pm EDT
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Valve Working Well as Tanking Moves Ahead
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Tanking of Space Shuttle Discovery is continuing and going well at Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The filling operations have transitioned to reduced fast fill on LH2 and have a good “closed” indication on the LH2 inboard fill and drain valve. Tanking operations are expected to conclude at about 5:45pm EDT.
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Liftoff of Discovery on the STS-128 mission remains on schedule for 11:59pm EDT tonight and the weather remains the primary concern. The forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of acceptable conditions. Meteorologists are watching for signs of anvil clouds and thunderstorms within 20 miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility.
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5:51pm EDT
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Launch on Schedule, Tanking Complete
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Space Shuttle Discovery's external tank has been loaded with about 535,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, the propellants that will power the shuttle's three main engines during launch.
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The fueling operation went smoothly and a fill-and-drain valve inside Discovery functioned properly throughout the process. Pumps at the launch pad will continue to trickle in a small amount of supercold chemicals to replace the amount that boils off during the countdown.
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The Final Inspection Team and Closeout Crew will head out to the pad shortly for their specialized tasks. The inspection team will look for signs of debris or ice buildup, while the Closeout Crew will ready Discovery for its seven-astronaut crew.
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Liftoff remains on schedule for 11:59 p.m. EDT tonight.
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8:33pm EDT
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Astronauts Strapped In for Flight
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Commander Rick "C.J" Sturckow, Pilot Kevin Ford and Mission Specialists Patrick Forrester and Jose Hernandez are seated on Discovery's flight deck this evening, while Danny Olivas, Christer Fuglesang and Nicole Stott are seated in their seats on the lower level or middeck.
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Radio checks are continuing for the crew while the countdown clicks down on schedule for a liftoff at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
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Technicians at the launch pad will soon close and latch the hatch on the side of Discovery. The crew can open the hatch from the inside during an emergency.
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While the preparations continue as planned, weather concerns remain, particularly for anvil clouds.
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Technicians Close Discovery's Hatch for Launch
10:03pm EDT
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The hatch on Space Shuttle Discovery has been closed and latched for flight in preparation for launch tonight at 11:59pm EDT.
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The countdown is proceeding as planned and while weather remains a top concern, the trend continues to be positive for the conditions around the launch site at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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Countdown Enters Planned Hold
9:46pm CDT
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The launch of Discovery on the STS-128 mission remains on schedule as the countdown entered its planned 10-minute hold at the T-20 minute point.
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There are no technical issues impeding launch, but weather remains a concern. The forecast continues to call for a 60 percent chance of acceptable conditions at liftoff.
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Launch is scheduled for 11:59pm EDT
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OK GANG -- Looks like this Bird is going FLY!
Launch Weather Forecast Improves
10:52pm EDT
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Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters has improved the launch forecast to an 80 percent chance of acceptable conditions at launch time. That reflects a continuing trend this evening of improving weather around the launch site at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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Launch remains scheduled for 11:59pm EDT
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Fingers crossed on getting them up tonight!
AJF
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Liftoff!!!
12:01am EDT
Space Shuttle Discovery has cleared the tower and is now speeding into space for a Space Station rendezvous... 225 mile above the earth..
Safe flight Discovery!!!
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* This post now closed *
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I’ll start a new post right before the First Spacewalk in a few days... so check back!
Have a GREAT weekend everyone!!!
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AubreyJ.........
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Watch Launch and Mission LIVE
Click HERE to viewENJOY!!!
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SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY STS-128 MISSION SUMMARY
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Discovery's flight will deliver supplies and equipment to the International Space Station. Inside the shuttle’s cargo bay is the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), a pressurized "moving van" that will be temporarily installed to the station. The module will deliver science and storage racks, a freezer to store research samples, a new sleeping compartment and the COLBERT treadmill. The 13-day mission will include three spacewalks to replace experiments outside the European Space Agency’s Columbus laboratory, and install a new ammonia storage tank and return the used one. Ammonia is used to move excess heat from inside the station to the radiators located outside. Discovery also will deliver a new crew member and bring back another after almost two months aboard the Space Station.
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SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY STS-128 is the 128th Space Shuttle Flight, the 30th to the International Space Station, the 37th for Discovery and the fourth Shuttle flight this year. Only SIX more flights to the International Space Station remain after the STS-128 mission. NASA will permanently retire the Space Shuttle Fleet in 2010.
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Above info and images from the NASA.gov website
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AubreyJ.........
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