STS-120

[Admin]

It gets more and more interesting . I like this thread very much!

/Admin

[DaveS]

It's the final push towards launch countdown now. Launch countdown will be started at 2 p.m EDT Saturday October 20. At that time, the countdown will be at T-43 hours and counting. T-43 hours is the equivalent of T-1 day, 19 hours.

By that time all the aft engine compartment should have been finsihed and the 50-1 and 50-2 doors will have been installed for flight.

Depending on the circumstances, KSC PAO might be generours enough to go live on NASA TV with a static feed from some of the 39A cameras prior to RSS retract which is currently scheduled for 3 p.m EDT Monday Octover 22.

They did this for STS-117 and kept the feed running until launch coverage started.

[Cornwallus]

Despite the concern looks like everything is a go.

The Flame Trench and Tod Halvorson are going with "Shuttle managers are "go" for Discovery launch" stating that "Shuttle managers next week will recommend launching Discovery on Oct. 23 despite an independent safety group's concerns about tiny cracks in protective coating on critical wing panels." here http://www.floridatoday.com/floridatoday/blogs/spaceteam/ down several pages.

In their new Chat section http://forums.floridatoday.com/viewforum.php?f=38 John Kelly (John Kelly is the Local Editor for Florida Today, and is responsible for their space coverage.) states that "The shuttle program manager Wayne Hale already has decided to recommend flying as-is."

[DaveS]

Despite the concern looks like everything is a go.

Don't read too much into that. Wayne Hale might see this a as "GO" situation, but tommorow he has to convince every other senior agency officials to see it that same way during the Level 1 FRR.

[Cornwallus]

Well I of course vote for the safest option even if it requires a rollback. I doubt everyone agrees or it wouldn't be an issue. Most are saying 90% chance of NOT rolling back.

[DaveS]

FRR is over; Presser to start anytime now.

[DaveS]

Presser will start at 4 pm Eastern time.

[Admin]

Presser will start at 4 pm Eastern time.

Links! WE want LINKS!

/Admin

[DaveS]

Presser will start at 4 pm Eastern time.

Links! WE want LINKS!

/Admin

NASA TV: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

[DaveS]

Earlier today the SRB flamedeflectors was installed into the launch position.

[Cornwallus]

Good news! Good news!

From Nasaspaceflight.com

The final Flight Readiness Review (FRR) is expected to approve October 23 as the launch date for STS-120, with the only one major outstanding issue receiving flight rationale.

Concerns over the coating on three of Discovery's RCC (reinforced carbon-carbon) panels - noted by two engineers at NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) - are being downplayed, after it was revealed NESC used data from Endeavour for their thermography data. Flight rationale has also been presented.

[DaveS]

STS-120 presskit has been released: http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/192719main_STS120_Shuttle_Press_Kit.pdf

[Cornwallus]

Finally! I can't remember one taking so long.

[DaveS]

Presser now NET 6:30 pm Eastern.

[DaveS]

NASA press release:

NASA Gives "Go" for Space Shuttle Launch on Oct. 23
NASA senior managers Tuesday completed a detailed review of space shuttle Discovery's readiness for flight and selected Oct. 23 as the official launch date. Commander Pam Melroy and her six crewmates are scheduled to lift off at 11:38 a.m. EDT on the STS-120 mission to the International Space Station.

Tuesday's meeting included a discussion about concerns raised by the NASA Engineering and Safety Center regarding the reinforced carbon carbon on three of Discovery's wing leading edge panels. This issue initially was brought before the Space Shuttle Program during a two-day, preliminary review held last week to assess preparations for Discovery's mission.

"After a thorough discussion and review of all current engineering analysis, we have determined that Discovery's panels do not need to be replaced before the mission," said Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier, who chaired Tuesday's meeting.

During the shuttle's 120th mission, the shuttle and station crews will work with flight controllers at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, to add a module to the station that will serve as a port for installing future international laboratories. The Harmony module will be the first expansion of the living and working space on the station since 2001. The upcoming mission also will move the first set of solar arrays installed on the station to a permanent location on the complex and redeploy them.

The 14-day mission includes five spacewalks - four by shuttle crew members and one by the station's Expedition 16 crew. Discovery is expected to complete its mission and return home at 4:47 a.m. EST on Nov. 6.

Joining Commander Melroy on STS-120 will be Pilot George Zamka and mission specialists Scott Parazynski, Stephanie Wilson, Doug Wheelock, Daniel Tani and Paolo Nespoli of the European Space Agency. Tani will remain aboard the station and return with the STS-122 crew, which is targeted to launch Dec. 6. Current Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson will return to Earth on Discovery after nearly five months on the station.