When will the space shuttle launch again?

From: Michael Shaffer

When do you guys think the shuttle will be back in action? I really miss
seeing the launches.

The current plan is for STS-114 to launch with Exp-9 on March 11, 2004.

Dave

"Terrence Daniels" wrote in
thlink.net:

From: Michael Shaffer

When do you guys think the shuttle will be back in action? I really
miss seeing the launches.

Me too. I get chills at SSME start. The ELV launches with the Mars
rovers have been keeping me going, but I can't drive down to the local
golf club and watch them go by like I can with the launches to the
station.

The current plan is for STS-114 to launch with Exp-9 on March 11,
2004.

That's news to me, how confident are they of that date? So they can
finish the re-work of the bipod area (already in work, I know),
flight-qualify the bolt catcher assemblies, and whatever else the CAIB
suggests, and be ready to go that soon?

The bipod ramp fix might be ready by December. Pacing items appear to be
RCC inspection and development of in-flight RCC inspection/repair
capability.


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JRF

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"Jorge R. Frank" wrote in message
...

The bipod ramp fix might be ready by December. Pacing items appear to be
RCC inspection and development of in-flight RCC inspection/repair
capability.

And they've already got a strategy in place for in-flight inspections, and
they're testing the big "flashlight" in the pool, right?

Will the new bipod design be for new hardware only, or can it be
retro-fitted to already-manufactured tanks?

"Terrence Daniels" wrote in
thlink.net:

"Jorge R. Frank" wrote in message
...

The bipod ramp fix might be ready by December. Pacing items appear to
be RCC inspection and development of in-flight RCC inspection/repair
capability.

And they've already got a strategy in place for in-flight inspections,

Dunno what you mean by "in-place", but NASA has been working on in-flight
inspection since late February, and they've gotten to the point of starting
serious hardware and procedures development.

and they're testing the big "flashlight" in the pool, right?

Flashlight? Haven't heard of that.

Will the new bipod design be for new hardware only, or can it be
retro-fitted to already-manufactured tanks?

I believe the latter, but I'm not 100% sure.

--
JRF

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"Jorge R. Frank" wrote in message
...
Dunno what you mean by "in-place", but NASA has been working on in-flight
inspection since late February, and they've gotten to the point of
starting
serious hardware and procedures development.

That's what I meant. They've been working on it for a while and they
generally know what they're going to do about the issue.

Flashlight? Haven't heard of that.

I should have said "arm extension" but "flashlight" came to mind because
that's how I thought of it, from the previous discussion on the subject...

"Terrence Daniels" wrote in
arthlink.net:

"Jorge R. Frank" wrote in message
...

Flashlight? Haven't heard of that.

I should have said "arm extension" but "flashlight" came to mind
because that's how I thought of it, from the previous discussion on
the subject...

OK, gotcha. There are a number of boom concepts being compared. I expect a
selection fairly soon (say August 1 or so).


--
JRF

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