Shuttle launch this morning, 5:40 am

[Freshgeardude]

So the last shuttle launch attempt, I stayed up until 4am, fell asleep and woke up at 7am, only to find that it was scrubbed because of a leak in one of the systems.

It was "repaired"


So today, after weather delays which stopped fueling, they started the fueling. 80% chance of a launch (weather)


So, 15 minutes ago, to help me stay awake this time instead of falling asleep and hoping my alarm wakes me up, I took a caffeine pill.

5 minutes later,

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, engineers are working to troubleshoot a liquid hydrogen leak that's been detected during filling of space shuttle Endeavour's external fuel tank. The leak is in the area of the ground umbilical carrier panel, the same location where a leak caused a launch scrub on June 13.

The three-hour fueling operation began at 11:04 p.m. EDT after a weather delay. The launch countdown resumed at T-3 hours and countding at 1:45 a.m. EDT. Launch still is scheduled for 5:40 a.m. EDT.

GOD DAMN IT! now I got this caffeine in me and the shuttle launch is probably going to be scrubbed again.

why cant the people fix the problem and test it to make sure it is fine

Update:

At 1:55 a.m. EDT, launch managers called a scrub, cancelling today's planned launch of space shuttle Endeavour on its STS-127 mission. Despite troubleshooting efforts, engineers were unable to achieve a decrease in the liquid hydrogen leak associated with the external fuel tank's ground umbilical carrier panel. This is the same location where a similar leak resulted in a launch scrub on June 13.

FML. now I hope I can fall asleep before the caffeine gets digested

 

[KLin]

YEA FYL.

 

[Freshgeardude]

do I purge?

 

[zerocool84]

Cus they know you want to watch it so they're puposely postponing it.

 

[KLin]

err, I'd say it's too late now. Plus you don't want to become a bulimic.

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: freshgeardude
why cant the people fix the problem and test it to make sure it is fine

"Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy!"

 

[thescreensavers]

sucks to be you

 

[manlymatt83]

ugh:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pa...ttle/launch/index.html

Bumped to July 11th

 

[sao123]

I feel bad for the guy who bought a ticket and was taking his kids to watch it launch.

 

[CaptnKirk]

Originally posted by: sao123
I feel bad for the guy who bought a ticket and was taking his kids to watch it launch.

I had company tickets (Lockheed) to the launch (Free), and we got up at 3:00 AM, and checked the TV - Scrubbed !

So we went shopping at 4:00 AM at Ron-Jon's - no crowds, no waiting !

Couldn't stay for the Wednesday attempt, don't think we can get back there for the July launch.

There are 7 more scheduled launches, and I can get tickets by contacting our internal program office - just have to get registered.

The Ground Umbelical Plate is where the leak is - the Hydrogen Vent to the torch.
They have to continuously vent off hydrogen gas as it boils off from a liquid, to keep the gas pressure out of the equation.
It is collected and moved to a flame stack and burned off to prevent an explosive atmoshpere from forming next to the Shuttle.

The interface plate is about 3 ft X 5 Ft, and is clamped against the hydrogen vent arm.

When the shuttle is filled the tank itself is about 72* F - 92* F temperature.
Liquid Oxygen is -273 F degrees, liquid Hydrogen is -423* F.
That is a swing of over 350* F for the Oxygen (upper tank) and over 500* F for the Hydrogen. (bottom tank)
CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) causes the Oxygen Tank section to shrink by about 1 inch diameter, and 1 inch in height,
and the Hydrogen Tank shrinks by about 1 1/2 inches in diameter & 3 - 4 inches height.
It's tricky to maintain that positional relationship with the Ground Plate when the structure is moving around like that.

 

[sao123]

I intend to get causeway tix for one of the last 7 launches, but they are just so dam hard to get.

they sell out in under 45 seconds.

 

[Freshgeardude]

Originally posted by: sao123
I intend to get causeway tix for one of the last 7 launches, but they are just so dam hard to get.

they sell out in under 45 seconds.

yup. When I got to go to the closest place possible. it was when it got scrubbed on a thursday, next attempt was saturday. when thursday got scrubbed, they first ask the people who origonally bought em if they want to move the date of the ticket, free. if they say they wont be able to stay, the tickets are up for sale at 8am the next morning. I got lucky and called early and got the tickets.