STS 131 Discovery, March 18, 2010.

Capt'n Midnight

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts131/index.html

lord lucan

We haven't even gotten STS-130 out of the way yet!!:p:p

Capt'n Midnight

Unfortunatley St Patricks day is Wednesday next year

Beeker

Whats going on!!:eek: Settle back now lads!:D

jumpguy

Capt'n Midnight is already excited about STS 131.

Thargor

Haha, its commanded by a guy called Poindexter, wonder if he was a nerd in school.

ynotdu

any updates on sts-175 yet

lord lucan

ynotdu wrote: »

any updates on sts-175 yet

Space shuttle Lucan has been assigned to STS-175. The vehicle has been named after the commander of STS-150 Lord Lucan!:D

ynotdu

lord lucan wrote: »

Space shuttle Lucan has been assigned to STS-175. The vehicle has been named after the commander of STS-150 Lord Lucan!:D

So long as Commander Lucan dont say *holy crap* at lift-off i can accept that!:pac::pac::pac:

Great they got all that extra funding!!!!!!:D

lord lucan

ynotdu wrote: »

So long as Commander Lucan dont say *holy crap* at lift-off i can accept that!:pac::pac::pac:

Great they got all that extra funding!!!!!!:D

NASA chief Beeker successfully appealed to President Obama jr. in 2025 for extra funding and a STS extension!

Can i say "Holy mary mother of god"?;)

ynotdu

lord lucan wrote: »

NASA chief Beeker successfully appealed to President Obama jr. in 2025 for extra funding and a STS extension!

Can i say "Holy mary mother of god"?;)

President Obama jr would be a woman,She would understand the need to 'get away' from it ALL:pac::pac::pac::pac:

Beeker as NASA chief?interesting idea,lots more pads and a launch every night after work!:D

You can say *holy mary moving statues!* If ya pull all that off!:)

Stargate

Thargor wrote: »

Haha, its commanded by a guy called Poindexter, wonder if he was a nerd in school.

Hiya Thargor , long time no see

Thargor

Hows the going Stargate, been studying, went back to college to escape the reccession. Hows the scope going, hope you didnt get flooded out down there.

Stargate

lord lucan wrote: »

We haven't even gotten STS-130 out of the way yet!!:p:p

Jez lads so much for waiting till jan 2010 :rolleyes: wheres Inspector Beeker
http://stargate.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album01&id=beeker
when you need him huh

Stargate

Thargor wrote: »

Hows the going Stargate, been studying, went back to college to escape the reccession. Hows the scope going, hope you didnt get flooded out down there.

Flooded jez rain rain everywhere :rolleyes: even your neck of the woods got it , my scope is doing great ,waiting on some clear nights without it bucketing down every 2 minutes , hows your scope Thargor , tut tut , you saying you went back to collage lol , tell the truth , the oul fella kicked ya out , too much partying i hear :D:D:D:D nice to see ya back round these parts :eek:

Stargate

lord lucan wrote: »

Space shuttle Lucan has been assigned to STS-175. The vehicle has been named after the commander of STS-150 Lord Lucan!:D

When the first launch of interplanetary flight Stargate-1 is taking place , dont anyone dare start any thread about it , its MINE

ALL MINE ..................:p;):D:):rolleyes::cool::pac::P

Capt'n Midnight

ynotdu wrote: »

any updates on sts-175 yet

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055154306

Stargate

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055154306

LoL Capt'n Midnight , All i can say is your ALL mad :eek:, and im the only sane person here thats the truth .............as i sit here in my Time Machine ready to go whos with me :cool:

fifilarue

Stargate wrote: »

Jez lads so much for waiting till jan 2010 :rolleyes: wheres Inspector Beeker
http://stargate.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album01&id=beeker
when you need him huh

:D:D

Beeker

Stargate wrote: »

Jez lads so much for waiting till jan 2010 :rolleyes: wheres Inspector Beeker
http://stargate.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album01&id=beeker
when you need him huh

:D:D

EvilMonkey

ynotdu wrote: »

any updates on sts-175 yet

Is that a Russian mission?

ynotdu

EvilMonkey wrote: »

Is that a Russian mission?

Niet !!!!!!!!!;)

Stargate

ynotdu wrote: »

Niet !!!!!!!!!;)

LoL @ ynotdu , He can speak taiwanese :eek: :P

lord lucan

Interesting images of Discovery as she undergoes processing in the OPF for STS-131. Her FRCS(Forward reaction control system) had been removed for repair and is pictured here being re-installed. I think this was about 2 weeks ago.

Beeker

With Endeavour in orbit with STS-130 its easy to forget that Discovery is well on its way throught processing for STS-131. Launch is due in just over a month on March 18th.
Discovery rolls over from its Orbiter processing facility (OPF) hanger to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) this sunday evening at 22:00 Irish time.

lord lucan

Looking like it could be monday before Discovery rolls over to the VAB. Weather is too cold for rollover at the moment.

Launch date looks likely to slip to March 22nd or possibly into April. A slip into April could impact on STS-132 in May.

Beeker

lord lucan

Rollover has been pushed back until the 22nd,looks like launch date will slip into April now.

Beeker

lord lucan wrote: »

Rollover has been pushed back until the 22nd,looks like launch date will slip into April now.

No rush, maybe they can stretch out the last four over the next two years or so:)

thecommander

You guys recon that will affect the next launch? STS-132?

lord lucan

thecommander wrote: »

You guys recon that will affect the next launch? STS-132?

It's very likely. There's talk that STS-132 could slip into early June,still too far out to say for sure. At the moment it's looking like STS-131 won't launch until around Easter.

ynotdu

Beeker wrote: »

Jeez Beeker the baldy guy looks like captain Picard and the woman to the left looks like Uhura...........the Space time continuam in full cooling flow;)..............Now all we need i s a 'Prime directive', too late now though that the USA has waved a white flag!:p:p:p

lord lucan

New No Earlier Than date of April 5th for launch,Easter monday.

ynotdu

lord lucan wrote: »

New No Earlier Than date of April 5th for launch,Easter monday.

Hey LL were is Your sense of fun and humour gone that served the previous STS threads so well ?
We have lost so many OF the STS.s threads contributors input since the first one i found........................They always had the important facts but were inclusive to all,the Craic is a sad loss:(

The facts can be found on so many sites,the little community We had built on boards just added to the enjoyment of what deep down we all feel passionate about!

lord lucan

ynotdu wrote: »

Hey LL were is Your sense of fun and humour gone that served the previous STS threads so well ?
We have lost so many OF the STS.s threads contributors input since the first one i found........................They always had the important facts but were inclusive to all,the Craic is a sad loss:(

The facts can be found on so many sites,the little community We had built on boards just added to the enjoyment of what deep down we all feel passionate about!

I think the realisation that we're witnessing the end of an era is contributing to an almost Wake-like feel to the STS programme. I'll be wearing a black armband for the last launch.:(

ynotdu

lord lucan wrote: »

I think the realisation that we're witnessing the end of an era is contributing to an almost Wake-like feel to the STS programme. I'll be wearing a black armband for the last launch.:(

Lol LL Ya i know what You mean,its all been a shock to those who care:)

It IS difficult to stay lighearted about it,so long as You keep stuffing that lady with food She may be fat enough to sing at wheelstop on 133:D

lord lucan

ynotdu wrote: »

Lol LL Ya i know what You mean,its all been a shock to those who care:)

It IS difficult to stay lighearted about it,so long as You keep stuffing that lady with food She may be fat enough to sing at wheelstop on 133:D

I was just thinking today how we,as fans of spaceflight,are gutted about the end of the STS programme. It got me thinking about what all the thousands who work at KSC/JSC must feel about losing their jobs but having to maintain their motivation to see each remaining flight off safely.

And the Astronaut office where there'll be feck all else to do for the foreseeable future,only a handful going up on Soyuz to the ISS,the rest will become glorified guest speakers.

ynotdu

lord lucan wrote: »

I was just thinking today how we,as fans of spaceflight,are gutted about the end of the STS programme. It got me thinking about what all the thousands who work at KSC/JSC must feel about losing their jobs but having to maintain their motivation to see each remaining flight off safely.

And the Astronaut office where there'll be feck all else to do for the foreseeable future,only a handful going up on Soyuz to the ISS,the rest will become glorified guest speakers.

and the humiliation of having no choice but Soyuz:(
Beeker suggested a while ago that due to loss of morale the STS- staff might take safety less seriously.Personally i dont believe they will,I hope they will leave with their head held high after knowing they were there to the end for the Astronauts.

Not so sure about 133 though as it is just a lap of honor who even the loyalist NASA emplyee will have to have found a new job beforehand.

It would be stupid of the private companies not to interview these experianced people,and i would guess they know that!:cool:

lord lucan

ynotdu wrote: »

and the humiliation of having no choice but Soyuz:(
Beeker suggested a while ago that due to loss of morale the STS- staff might take safety less seriously.Personally i dont believe they will,I hope they will leave with their head held high after knowing they were there to the end for the Astronauts.

Not so sure about 133 though as it is just a lap of honor who even the loyalist NASA emplyee will have to have found a new job beforehand.

It would be stupid of the private companies not to interview these experianced people,and i would guess they know that!:cool:

I don't think that safety will be an issue,the guys there know what needs to be done and as a matter of personal pride too. STS-133 will effectively be the last Trash collection for a while on the ISS. It'll also be the last large delivery of supplies to the ISS. Neither Soyuz or Progress have the upmass or downmass capabilities of the Shuttle.

ynotdu

lord lucan wrote: »

I don't think that safety will be an issue,the guys there know what needs to be done and as a matter of personal pride too. STS-133 will effectively be the last Trash collection for a while on the ISS. It'll also be the last large delivery of supplies to the ISS. Neither Soyuz or Progress have the upmass or downmass capabilities of the Shuttle.

nor the HTV and the ATV as well as progress as You know.{even combigned}
I do not believe the Heavy launch Vehicle will ever become a reality for NASA unless the Military have a big say in it!

Reality check in obama's mind,end of the road for those of us that loved the 'innocence'of NASA.

lord lucan

ynotdu wrote: »

nor the HTV and the ATV as well as progress as You know.{even combigned}
I do not believe the Heavy launch Vehicle will ever become a reality for NASA unless the Military have a big say in it!

Reality check in obama's mind,end of the road for those of us that loved the 'innocence'of NASA.

I hope that the military don't get involved! NASA went after the military,effectively selling the Shuttle to the military in order to get funding for the STS programme. In the end it's design was heavily influenced by the military but they effectively abandoned it leaving NASA with a vehicle with an over-sized cargo bay. A smaller Shuttle would've been cheaper to fly.

lord lucan

Oh and STS-131 technically becomes a night launch as it launches just before sunrise at 06.27 EDT(11.27 Irish time).

ynotdu

lord lucan wrote: »

I hope that the military don't get involved! NASA went after the military,effectively selling the Shuttle to the military in order to get funding for the STS programme. In the end it's design was heavily influenced by the military but they effectively abandoned it leaving NASA with a vehicle with an over-sized cargo bay. A smaller Shuttle would've been cheaper to fly.

Well i hope so too,but think it is inevitable.off the top of my head i think no more than 3 military flights happened {that we know of:D}
There was a lot of opposistion to it from many quaters in more innocent times and the idea was dropped.

even with the size of the cargo bay Cupola had to be put at the 'wrong end' of Node3 and relocated in Space because that was the only way to fit them into the cargo bay!

not trying to argue or split hairs with you just hope at the end of it all We will all know the true facts with certainty.A smaller Cargo bay could not have even came close to where 130 has brought the ISS IMO.

lord lucan

The bigger cargo bay has been brilliant for ISS construction,it was just in the early years of the STS programme when NASA were trying to figure out what to do with the Shuttle that they had a great big empty space with nothing to put in it except for a few science experiments. All academic now but i hope they don't make the same mistake further down the line.:cool:

ynotdu

lord lucan wrote: »

The bigger cargo bay has been brilliant for ISS construction,it was just in the early years of the STS programme when NASA were trying to figure out what to do with the Shuttle that they had a great big empty space with nothing to put in it except for a few science experiments. All academic now but i hope they don't make the same mistake further down the line.:cool:

and Hubble and Spacelab before the Challenger...................Spacelab done some good science although spacelab is almost forgotten now it sure filled the cargo bay.:)

Not to be confused with skylab:o

ynotdu

The Spacelab Module consists of a cylindrical main laboratory configurable as Short or Long Module flown in the rear of the Space Shuttle cargo bay, connected to the crew compartment by a tunnel. The laboratory had an outer diameter of 4.12 m, and each segment a length of 2.7 m. Most of the time two segments were used in forming the Long Module configuration.
The Spacelab Pallet is a U-shaped platform for mounting instrumentation, large instruments, experiments requiring exposure to space, and instruments requiring a large field of view, such as telescopes. The pallet has several hard points for mounting heavy equipment. The pallet can be used in single configuration or stacked end to end in double or triple configurations. Up to five pallets can be configured in the Space Shuttle cargo bay by using a double plus triple pallet.
Other Spacelab elements include the tunnel, Igloo, and the Instrument Pointing System (IPS) tailored to the pallet interfaces for precise pointing to space or earth targets.


Spacelab: being prepared for STS-45 Atlantis,whom a certain Mr Bolden was flying:)



and skylab the little bits that worked:o

Beeker

As a matter of interest the very first Spacelab flight was STS-9 in 1983 {Skipped school to watch launch on BBC}:D It was commanded by John Young, a legend of an astronaut, he few on the first Mercury flight, flew twice to the moon including landing as the 9th man to walk on the moon on Apollo 16 in 1972 and then went on to command STS-1 in 1981. I had the privilage of meeting him about 10 years ago.:)
Anyway STS-9 came very close to being the first shuttle disaster.
During orbiter orientation, four hours before re-entry, one of the guidance computers crashed when the thrusters were fired. A few minutes later, a second crashed in a similar fashion, but was successfully rebooted. Young delayed the landing, letting the orbiter drift. He later testified: "Had we then activated the Backup Flight Software, loss of vehicle and crew would have resulted." Post-flight analysis revealed the GPCs failed when the RCS thruster motion knocked a piece of solder loose and shorted out the CPU board.
Columbia landed on 8 December 1983 at Edwards AFB completing 166 orbits and traveling 4.3 million miles. Right before landing, two of the orbiter's three APU's caught fire due to a hydrazine leak, but the orbiter still landed successfully. The leak was later discovered after it burned itself out and caused major damage to the compartment.

Kevster

God you guys write a lot... ...! Looks like it's been pushed forward (or back...?) to 5th April now. I assume this has already been mentioned but I don't have time to read the whole thread!

Hard to believe these launches will come to an end relatively soon, but life must move forward. What'll we talk about then here...!

:rolleyes:

Kevin

PS - Just to confirm: 0627EDT is 1127GMT?

ynotdu

Kevster wrote: »

God you guys write a lot... ...! Looks like it's been pushed forward (or back...?) to 5th April now. I assume this has already been mentioned but I don't have time to read the whole thread!

Hard to believe these launches will come to an end relatively soon, but life must move forward. What'll we talk about then here...!

:rolleyes:

Kevin

PS - Just to confirm: 0627EDT is 1127GMT?

Kevin! We will play catch-up on Cassini,Mariner.the Voyagers,the Vikings and all the other great work done by NASA/JPL! :).and yeah apart from clock changing times of the year. EST/EDT is five hours behind GMT/BST.

or CST/CDT {NASA have an annoying habit of using EST OR CST depending on who is writing the updates or doing live commentry for NASA site/TV:(} is six hours behind GMT/BST.

lord lucan

ynotdu wrote: »

Kevin! We will play catch-up on Cassini,Mariner.the Voyagers,the Vikings and all the other great work done by NASA/JPL! :).and yeah apart from clock changing times of the year. EST/EDT is five hours behind GMT/BST.

or CST/CDT {NASA have an annoying habit of using EST OR CST depending on who is writing the updates or doing live commentry for NASA site/TV:(} is six hours behind GMT/BST.

Oh No,not the time zones again?!!:eek::eek::eek:

Beeker

Rollover to the VAB due on Tuesday. Tank and boosters stacked and ready for Discovery.