Ernesto threatens shuttle

TimK wrote:
Yep, being serious - if it's not launched by Tuesday night and this storm
stays on its forecast track I have to think they'll be taking a serious look
at a rollback. Let's keep 'em crossed that we launch on Tuesday...


Does NASA have fixed metrics on how much wind/rain a shuttle can
widthstand at the launch pad ? I know that it has, in the past published
specs on what its buildings can survive.

If Ernesto ends up being only a Car I or tropica storm by the time it
reaches KSC, does the Shuttle really have to be moved back to the VAB ?

Someone mentioned retracting the RSS. If NASA decides to leave the
shuttle at the pad, woudln't the RSS remain over it to protect it ?

"John Doe" wrote in message ...
TimK wrote:
Yep, being serious - if it's not launched by Tuesday night and this
storm
stays on its forecast track I have to think they'll be taking a serious
look
at a rollback. Let's keep 'em crossed that we launch on Tuesday...


If Ernesto ends up being only a Car I or tropica storm by the time it
reaches KSC, does the Shuttle really have to be moved back to the VAB ?

The trouble is the lead time required to get it back. Last I heard (and
this has been released

Someone mentioned retracting the RSS. If NASA decides to leave the
shuttle at the pad, woudln't the RSS remain over it to protect it ?

Yes it would, that was just me yanking Haller's chain.

TimK wrote:
If Ernesto ends up being only a Car I or tropica storm by the time it
reaches KSC, does the Shuttle really have to be moved back to the VAB ?

The trouble is the lead time required to get it back. Last I heard (and
this has been released

Excuse me for interrupting but I have a question not answered in the
briefing at 8-9EST 8/27/06.

If the decision is made *not* to go to rollback prep and to instead go
for launch on Tuesday, a see a possible problem.

I recall a lauch once being scrubbed *after* main engine ignition but
obviously before SRB ignition. If that were to happen on Tuesday (or
something similar that happens late in the countdown that prevents
launch), doesn't that mean the system gets stuck at the pad during the
arrival of Ernesto because of insufficient time to detank, prep for
rollback and rollback?

Lee Jay

Tim, email me directly at
if
you'd like to share insights safely.



"TimK" wrote in message
. ..

"Bob Haller" wrote in message
oups.com...

Jim Oberg wrote:
So how soon do they have to decide to roll back inside?

they will likely try to launch before hurricane arrives,, having it sit
on pad bad idea even tareped imnagine the foam issues......

At great risk of being fired for not going through proper channels I can
tell you that the plan is this:
If we have not launched by Wednesday, the lightning protection system will
be taken down as protection against FOD. The shuttle weather protection
system will be removed and the RSS will be retracted. An MLP has been
moved into the VAB but save for a few SRB segments little stacking has
been done and 103 is safely in OPF 3 so we can then send techs up onto the
VAB roof to retrieve tarps to cover 104. If not enough tarps remain there
is a Walmart in Titusville and we will get whatever else we need from
there.

On 27 Aug 2006 18:08:58 -0700, wrote:

I recall a lauch once being scrubbed *after* main engine ignition but
obviously before SRB ignition.

The last was in 1993. Improved engines since then make it unlikely
nowadays. Most last minute delays in the last decade have been for...
wait for it... the weather.

If that were to happen on Tuesday (or
something similar that happens late in the countdown that prevents
launch), doesn't that mean the system gets stuck at the pad during the
arrival of Ernesto because of insufficient time to detank, prep for
rollback and rollback?

I don't think they'd have time to roll back, last-second launch abort
or not, after Tuesday. They either go for launch Tuesday, or roll back
Tuesday. Weather will be too bad for either on Wednesday (and I have
my doubts about Tuesday's weather, too.)

Brian

Ahh schedule pressure will cause all sorts of sad side effects

Contiuning to try to launch is going to cost us another crew......

Brian Thorn wrote:
I recall a lauch once being scrubbed *after* main engine ignition but
obviously before SRB ignition.

The last was in 1993. Improved engines since then make it unlikely
nowadays. Most last minute delays in the last decade have been for...
wait for it... the weather.

I realize that but, you know, stuff happens.

If that were to happen on Tuesday (or
something similar that happens late in the countdown that prevents
launch), doesn't that mean the system gets stuck at the pad during the
arrival of Ernesto because of insufficient time to detank, prep for
rollback and rollback?

I don't think they'd have time to roll back, last-second launch abort
or not, after Tuesday. They either go for launch Tuesday, or roll back
Tuesday. Weather will be too bad for either on Wednesday (and I have
my doubts about Tuesday's weather, too.)

As do I. I predict they'll start rollback prep tomorrow. That
lightning strike killed this window. When does the next one open?

Lee Jay

wrote:
Brian Thorn wrote:
I don't think they'd have time to roll back, last-second launch abort
or not, after Tuesday. They either go for launch Tuesday, or roll back
Tuesday. Weather will be too bad for either on Wednesday (and I have
my doubts about Tuesday's weather, too.)

Finally found confirmation of this:

"The forecast for Tuesday calls for showers in the area and if NASA
failed to get Atlantis off, engineers would not have time to get the
shuttle back to the VAB before high winds from Ernesto reached the
area."

From:
http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts115/060827gerst/

Lee Jay

wrote:
"The forecast for Tuesday calls for showers in the area and if NASA
failed to get Atlantis off, engineers would not have time to get the
shuttle back to the VAB before high winds from Ernesto reached the
area."

Heard that NASA would make a decision no later than 07:00am KSC time on
Monday.

My guess is that unless the weather outlook for tuesday is *great*,
they'll probably play it safe and decide to move the shutle back to VAB.

Even if the weather looks great, they have to look at the possibility of
some glitch that forces a scrub at the last minute on Tuesday, and
whether at that time, there would be enough time left to bring the
shuttle back to VAB (or whether it is save to keep shuttle on the pad
during the weather event).

The last was in 1993. Improved engines since then make it unlikely
nowadays. Most last minute delays in the last decade have been for...
wait for it... the weather.

Actually the last was in 1994 - August 18th, 1994 - STS-68 aborted at
T-1 second :-)