A critical fuel-loading operation is on tap at Kennedy Space Center this weekend as NASA presses ahead with preparations for the planned launch later this month of shuttle Discovery and a space station construction crew.
A standard test of the shuttle's Auxiliary Power Units, meanwhile, will be performed next Thursday after launch controllers and Discovery's astronauts complete a practice countdown for the Oct. 23 launch.
High winds forced NASA to cancel the APU "hot-fire" after Discovery rolled out to launch pad 39A last Sunday. Officials then considered forgoing the test to save time in a tight schedule. Shuttle program manager Wayne Hale ultimately decided it would be prudent to proceed with the checkout.
Fueled by toxic hydrazine, the turbine-driven power units generate mechanical shaft power to drive hydraulic pumps that produce pressure needed to operate the orbiter's hydraulic system.
The hydraulic power is used to steer the orbiter's main engines during ascent and control the spaceship's aerosurfaces, landing gear, brakes and nosewheel steering system during atmospheric reentry and landing.
The towering Rotating Service Structure at launch pad 39A will have to be rolled back away from the shuttle for the test to be conducted. The test involves activating the units and running them to make sure they are operating as intended.
Discovery is returning to service after a nine-month modification period, and the test is standard for an orbiter with a newly refurbished set of APUs.
The APUs are activated about five minutes before liftoff and then turned off after the shuttle reaches orbit. The units enable a flight control system checkout the day before landing, and they are turned on prior to atmospheric reentry.
NASA engineers this weekend will clear launch pad 39A of all but essential personnel so toxic monomethyl hydrazine and nitrogen textroxide can be loaded into APU tanks as well as those that feed the shuttle's twin orbital maneuvering engines and 44 nose-and-tail steering thrusters.
The hydraulic power units on the shuttle's two solid rocket boosters also will be serviced during the hazardous operation, which is expected to wrap up Sunday.
Discovery's astronauts still are scheduled to fly to KSC on Sunday evening to take part in emergency training and a practice countdown next week.
Led by veteran astronaut Pam Melroy, the crew includes pilot George Zamka and mission specialists Scott Parazynski, Stephanie Wilson, Douglas Wheelock and Paolo Nespoli of the European Space Agency. NASA astronaut Dan Tani will fly up to the International Space Station with the crew. Tani will replace station flight engineer Clay Anderson, who will return to Earth aboard Discovery.
Discovery's crew aims to deliver the U.S. Harmony module to the station. Built by the Italian Space Agency, the multihatch module will serve as a pressurized gateway to still-to-be-launched European and Japanese science laboratories.
Five spacewalks are planned during a 10-day stay at the station. An on-time launch would lead to a targeted 4:48 a.m. landing at KSC.
IMAGE NOTE: Click to enlarge the NASA photo of shuttle Discovery on launch pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center, where the shuttle is being readied for a planned Oct. 23 launch on an International Space Station assembly mission. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton.
57 comments:
looks like somethimg else being accomplished without you know who.
just hope they are not getting free bags of cheetos to do the job, I would cross the picket line for cheetos!!
Well, as usual, accurate reporting at Florida Today isn't narly as important as sounding as if you know what you're talking about. Monomethyl hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide are used in the Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) and Reaction Control System (RCS). The APU uses hydrazine: 2 nitrogens and 4 hydrogens, no methyl groups involved. Granted, the layman probably won't know the difference, but when you do, you realize how much of what you read to take as gospel (hint: the answer is somewhere between zero and very little).
Would USA ever trust these strikers to return to work? Think about it. Disruptions, possible sabotage, slow downs to force overtime, workplace hatred for loyal workers. With the shuttle flow running smoothly, USA, you be foolish to let them in. The company knows this though, that is one reason the strikers won't be back. As I know HR reads this, I say don't do it USA, ride this out, you're doing fine. Your offer was fair & equitable. They walked, they lost. Roger wilco, over and out.
My are we getting picky.
GO NASA AND USA GO FOR THE GOLD.
Has the strike been worth the price you've paid? Really? Whatever!
me need cheetos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ROGER,WILCO,OVER AND OUT!!
Why does everyone assume the strikers read this?
A union member committed suicide yesterday because his house went into foreclosure and his child was diagnosed with leukemia both in the same week. Please end this strike before anyone else is hurt.
Let the bums bake in the sun. USA HR don't let them come back.
What in the H-E double Johnny Walker bottles possesed those people to walk out? Oh well, I hear Barnum and Bailey is starting up clown college soon.
The negotiating committee is a NO GOOD SCAB !! You betrayed your people!!
PRIDE IS ONE OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS, IS THERE A MESSAGE THERE.
IS THE "IAM" RECEIVING THE MESSAGE?
USA, you be foolish to let them in((( what a joke ))))
When you guys will admit to the amount of damage USA has been doing to the stack and GSE equipment , I'll admit the strike to be a mistake .
6:51 They are receiving it! It is a path fools have trod before. They follow blind arrogant buffoons who fart and think they've spoke wisely. You'll notice Fred Savage has nothing to say anymore. His rantings of "almost over" must have referred to his postings. Chickens have pecked out more wisdom than that union prop.
Finally, a striker worth his $150. I saw you holding up your sign, and standing! Bravo!!!! Little Caesar's is always looking for that kind of help!
If you listened at the meeting, or were really there, you'd know we are waiting to hear about a negotiation date. Do you think we'd lie to keep you hopeful? Man up and be strong in this fight. We are making history with this strike. When we return, this company will really know who we are!
1:02 Damage? What, did safety go on strike? No idiot, things went smooth without you. Have a nice Christmas now.
its a good thing those strikers like cheetohs so much, theyre gonna be giving them to their kids for x-mas. ah x-mas on the strike line...
waiting to hear for a negotiation date huh? let me guess, in about 2 weeks right?
WHY WOULD ANYONE BE ANTI-UNION AFTER ALL THE IAM IS ON OUR TEAM???????????????????????
Why does it bother so many people that these workers have joined together to support one cause. A fair contract. Are you just afraid that they will come back and get their jobs back? Are you worried that they will see what really happened there while they were out? What gives? Why are you so troubled by this strike? Just curious.
THE NEGOTIATION DATE, THE DATE,
THE DATE, THE DATE, THIS COULD GO ON FOREVER?????????????????????
GIVE US A DATE NOT A PROMISE.
WE DO NOT WANT THE "IAM" BACK THEY ARE A PAIN ON THE ROAD TO PROGRESS.
CHECK THE AIRLINES WHO WANTS THE 'IAM' NO ONE.
THEY ADD NOTHING TO ANY PROGRAM JUST PROBLEMS.
The IAM has been around the space center forever helping to send astronauts to space and bring them home safely. They do not take anything away from you, but you seem to take from them. Seems to me they should be the ones blogging angry hate and instead of that, it is you posting hate. Why do you feel that this is the right course of action?
wow suddenly the same strikers who were spewing all this hate on these blogs want to make nice. i guess 4 months of unemployment will do that. maybe they just now realized how good they had it and a fair and equitable contract was presented to them in june.
the IAM from the early Space days is not the IAM of today i worked with the IAM for fifty years they were very professional.
The IAM today does not have the same professional atitude that was show in the early days od space launch this is just not my opinion
this is the opinion of many as you can see on the blogs.
WHY IS IT IF IT IS NOT FOR THE IAM IT IS HATE.
TRUTH IS HARD TOO TAKE AT TIMES AND THE DAYS OF THE LABOR THUG ARE OVER.
LABOR CAN NOT SHUT PRODUCTION DOWN AND THAT IS THEIR MAIN TOOL.
SO IF YOU DO NOT WANT THIS LABOR MOVEMENT IT IS HATE.
NO IT IS THE TRUTH IT SPEAKS FOR IT SELF READ THE TEA LEAVES.
The buggy whip and buckboard were around for a longer time than the IAM and we do not need them any more.
Everything in its time and place the days of the big labor are over.
Brute force does not work in the 21st. century.
Labor movements have to grow up if they are going to survive.
As a disinterested party, having no connection to NASA or the aerospace industry, I find the posts by both sides of this strike to be on the level of a 3rd grade schoolyard hissy fit. Geez, grow up.
Do you think the negative action by the "IAM" for the last 14 weeks might color how people feel about the "IAM"?
Block traffic, throw things at autos, yell rude remarks, paint items, make a gross of negative comments on the blogs.
Wake up and smell the flowers do not live in your own little dream world.
They are taking from everone that works at the space center.
Hey 2:52 P.M. post
I have some extra nice Cheetos for you and yours this COMING holiday season!! I bet YOU can figure out that extra ingredient that was added, you know the same one you get everyday from your boss!!!
I AGREE WITH YOUR COMMENT "HAS BEEN" PERIOD.
I hope all the strikers get cancer and die.
3:06, wheres the love?
As I said, the union never spouts hate, just extends an olive branch only to bring back a stump. Let all see who breeds the hate here.
If the strikers do come back they will just be fired for anything we can find on them. So go ahead and mouth off to one of us when/if you get back, it will be the last thing you say at the space center.
If by some miracle you scumbag strikers make it back to work, don't get comfortable because we will get you back for all of this. Your days at KSC will most certainly be numbered.
To 3:06
I don't like the union but I wouldn't want to wish them to die of cancer.....you wouldn't want that to happen to you either.
Strikers, there is bad news brewing. Might be on your site by now.
Managers today were told to continue the hiring process. Read betwen the lines for what happened in Houston with the mediator.
Hey 3:46pm, do you live in a gin bottle? You say "the union never spouts hate". What?
You would probably believe this then...
"it's almost over!"
I says get up off your arse if you gonna hold the sign. Earn you $150.
Wait, lets get this straight right now. You blast the s... out of people from every side and now want to wonder why?
Well,
If USA blows off the mediator , NLRB violations will result .
That will result in the replacement workers being let go and USA in a heap of trouble .
So sure , hope for the worst , hope your managers keep hiring replacements . You guys will be working 60+ hours a week doing manual labor when you are supposed to be doing paperwork in the A/C .
Gotta love the hate. The union is just spewing it out. Who could trust them. Oh! Wait a minute. I may be wrong. Whoops. Looks like someone else is showing the hate.
If the strikers do come back they will just be fired for anything we can find on them. So go ahead and mouth off to one of us when/if you get back, it will be the last thing you say at the space center.((((((((( that is a 2 lane road and i can call 35 folks who will back me at any time open that can you could get cut))))))))))
Its amazing that all you anti union people think that it is appropriate to wish harm upon our children and ourselves,then you have the audacity to call us scum,slugs,etc.. Get real,grow a spine look in the mirror amd GROW UP!!!!!
3:36 A.M. post
Real big man arent ya!! Tell you what why dont you cease your tough guy blogging in here and drop by one of the picket lines with your petty threats!! I sure you dont have the spine for that do you!! I welcome your pathetic attempt to get me CUT when I get back,just remember that blade cuts both ways!
7:43 P.M. post
It seems you are having a difficult time during these trying times. Have you thought about some form of stress relief,such as EXTRA STRENGTH EX-LAX,SPOUSAL ABUSE,ANIMAL CRUELTY,ETC... Have a nice day.
Don't worry about these anti-union people. They are just ho air. Let them show the hate. This way everyone sees that we aren't the problem. They are.
I hope that both sides see what HR is doing. Stirring hate amongst us all and then they will fire at will to get the head count down. Don't let them succeed.
Please, please let the union back so we can laugh at them and ridicule them until they either quit, or are fired for saying something derogatory. then we can move qualified people into those jobs.
Please,please, get a spine BOY!!!!
USA is the company of choice...you have a choice to work or strike. you dummies chose to strike, may you never come back to KSC
USA is the company of choice...you have a choice to work or strike. you dummies chose to strike, may you never come back to KSC
7:37 PM
Please. They are hate mongers just like FT. Push that hate FT.
Post a Comment