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Post Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2009
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* Wednesday Launch Time: 5:40am EDT *
About above photo: Taken June 12, 2009 - The open rotating service structure (left) on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida reveals space shuttle Endeavour poised for launch. The structure was rotated to its open position in preparation for Endeavour's liftoff on the STS-127 mission with a crew of seven.
The rotating structure provides protected access to the shuttle for changeout and servicing of payloads at the pad. It is supported by a rotating bridge that pivots on a vertical axis on the west side of the pad's flame trench. After the RSS is rolled back, the orbiter is ready for fuel cell activation and external tank cryogenic propellant loading operations.
Image credit: NASA/Jim Grossman
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Latest Space Shuttle News Straight From NASA
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
8:15pm EDT
Managers are Discussing Tanking Weather
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At NASA's Kennedy Space Center, launch managers met to discuss filling Space Shuttle Endeavour's external fuel tank in preparation for the STS-127 launch scheduled for 5:40 a.m. tomorrow.
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Due to current weather conditions, fueling will not begin as scheduled at 8:15 p.m.
There is currently a 40 percent chance of weather prohibiting tanking as a result of anvil clouds and lightening in the area. Managers will continue to monitor weather conditions.
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Teams can begin tanking as late as 10 p.m. without impacting tomorrow's launch attempt.
Info from the NASA.gov website
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Update:
Launch Team Cautiously Optimistic About Weather
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 - 09:42pm CDT
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The Launch Team is cautiously optimistic that weather is clearing and teams will be able to begin tanking. Tanking was scheduled to begin at approximately 8:15 p.m. EDT, but is being delayed due to weather conditions. There is currently a 40 percent chance of weather prohibiting tanking as a result of anvil clouds and lightning in the area. For tanking, lightning cannot be within 5 miles of the launch pad..The team still is in a posture to make the 5:40 a.m. launch attempt tomorrow morning.
Info from the NASA.gov website
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Update:
With Clearing Weather, Tanking Begins
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 - 10:09pm CDT
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After a delay due to bad weather in the area, the launch team gave a "GO" for fueling of the external tank. Tanking operations should begin shortly.
Launch still scheduled for 5:40am EDT Wednesday morning.
Info from the NASA.gov website
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Update:
Endeavour Fueling Continues
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 - 10:52pm CDT
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Space Shuttle Endeavour's external fuel tank is being filled with more than 500,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The three-hour operation began at 11:04 p.m. EDT. The Liquid Hydrogen Low Level Cutoff (LLCO) sensors will go "wet" at about 11:49 p.m. The tank will be completely filled, known as stable replenish, at about 2:04 a.m..The launch countdown currently is holding at T-3 hours, which will last until 1:45 a.m. EDT.
There still is a 80 percent chance that weather will not affect the 5:40 a.m. launch of STS-127.
Info from the NASA.gov website
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Update:
Tuesday at 11:50pm CDT
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NASA’s STS-127 Launch Blog starts up at 12:30am CDT Wednesday morning. Click it out for the rest of the night for latest updates. I’m out of here. See ya in the morning…
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Post Update:
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 1:21am CDT
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Sorry Folks!!!
Endeavour Liftoff Scrubbed… again!
Briefing is Planned
About above image: This close-up reveals the Ground Umbilical Carrier Panel area on Space Shuttle Endeavour's external fuel tank.
Image credit: NASA TV
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Space Shuttle Endeavour's STS-127 launch today was officially scrubbed at 1:55 a.m. EDT when the same type of gaseous hydrogen leak at the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate occurred. This is the same location where a similar leak resulted in a launch scrub on June 13th. Vent valve troubleshooting took place for about an hour before it became clear the problem could not be solved.Endeavour's next launch attempt for its STS-127 mission is targeted for July 11 at 7:39 p.m. EDT..There will be a briefing on NASA TV no earlier than 3:30 a.m. EDT with Deputy Space Shuttle Program Manager LeRoy Cain and Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach. Watch it live at http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
Info from the NASA.gov website
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* LAST POST UPDATE *
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 3:03am CDT
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Hydrogen Leak Prevents STS-127 Launch
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Space shuttle Endeavour's STS-127 launch today was officially scrubbed at 1:55 a.m. EDT when the same type of gaseous hydrogen leak was detected at the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate, or GUCP. This is the same location where a similar leak resulted in a launch scrub on June 13.
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"We're going to step back and figure out what the problem is and go fix it," said Deputy Space Shuttle Program Manager LeRoy Cain during a briefing afterward. "Once we get it fixed and we're confident that we have a solution that's going to work and allow us to go fly safely, then we'll proceed forward."
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Teams followed the same repair method as they did for the GUCP leak encountered during the STS-119 countdown. The STS-119 and STS-127 leaks will both be evaluated in order to determine the cause. Data collected during fueling is expected to help the troubleshooting effort.
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Endeavour's next launch attempt is targeted for July 11th at 7:39pm EDT.
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NOTE: This Post now closed - Next Post on this mission will be during the first week of July.
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God speed on getting this problem fix NASA, for good, so we can get back to work on the Space Station. Times running out before we have to retire these wonderful flying machines!
AubreyJ………
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STS-127: Interactive Mission Timeline
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No. 435-09 June 19, 2009
