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PART 1: Upcoming back to school editio UPCOMING BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION
As many schools begin a new year, Shuttle Team Online (STO) prepares the annual back-to-school edition. Now planned for around August 28, this special message will acquaint newcomers and refocus old STO hands to the various learning opportunities available. At that time, we'll get back on a once-per-week publishing schedule for these updates-sto messages. Look forward to this special edition, coming to your email box soon! CHAT WITH SHUTTLE FOLKS
Many interesting people have been scheduled for the Shuttle Team Online chat room. A schedule through mid-September is already available and summarized below. If you'll want to ask questions (instead of just observing), you will need to RSVP ahead of time by sending a note to ocox@mail.arc.nasa.gov For all of the details, visit http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/events/interact.html Thursday, August 21, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Pacific David Paternostro, Space Shuttle Flight Controller David works in mission control and is responsible for the hydraulic systems on board the orbiter. The hydraulic systems move the flight control surfaces and most of the mechanisms on board the orbiter (such as the payload bay doors and the docking system). Monday, August 25, 12:00 p.m-1:00 p.m. Pacific Michael Moses, Flight Control Officer Michael monitors data from space shuttles during missions, to make sure all of their systems operate as planned. Thursday, September 4, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Pacific Greg Katnik, Mechanical Systems Engineer Greg is part of a team that assembles the space shuttle, external tank, and solid rocket boosters together in preparation of a launch. Monday, September 8, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Pacific Kurt Bush, Graphical Research and Analysis Facility (GRAF) Lab Kurt designs computer animation of astronauts using equipment and working in space. Monday, September 22, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Pacific Melissa Bodeau, Space Shuttle Flight Controller During shuttle missions, Melissa is responsible for maintaining the computers on the orbiter. [Editor's note: David is a space shuttle flight controller. He works in mission control as the "MMACS Officer." MMACS stands for mechanical, maintenance, arm, and crew systems. David is responsible for the hydraulic systems on board the orbiter and most of the mechanisms on board the orbiter (such as the payload bay doors and the docking system). As a flight controller, David must totally understand his systems on the shuttle and solve a problem very quickly.] TOUGH SIMULATIONS HELP PREPARE FOR THE REAL THING
David Paternostro http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/team/paternostro.html July 28 - Aug 10 I have been doing lots of integrated simulation training with the flight control team and the STS-85 crew in preparation for the launch on Aug. 7. The ascent and entry simulations normally pick up quite a bit in the two weeks prior to a specific flight. The training folks do their best to script each simulation to give each member of the flight control team realistic failures to work through with the crew. The MMACS team has been getting a lot of cases lately where we have problems with deploying the landing gear. There are three methods to deploy the landing gear. The training folks seem to be determined to fail two methods and make me work hard to keep the last method from failing. Simulations normally have FAR more failures than what is seen on an actual flight. The training folks want to ensure you can work quickly and under pressure. Our last integrated simulation prior to the launch was Monday, Aug. 4. Right after the simulation the crew flew to the Cape. On Wednesday, Aug. 6, we had the L-1 tag-up. This consists of the JSC ascent flight control team, the KSC launch team, and the crew all listening in on a conference via headsets or telephones. Any last-minute questions about the shuttle or the weather are discussed at this point. Thursday, Aug. 7, was launch day. I got up at 3:30 a.m. to be on console at 4:30 a.m. In the hours prior to launch I am looking at my systems to ensure I do not see anything unusual that could give us trouble on ascent or while on orbit. That is, it is the last chance to fix something before you launch. The weather at both the Cape and the transatlantic abort sites was good and we were given a go for launch. Unlike the simulations, there were no failures on the real ascent of STS-85. Currently, I am working on the orbit one shift (12:30 a.m. till 8:30 a.m. in the morning) and it is relatively quiet. [Editor's note: Dian Hardison (Die-Hard for short) works as a materials expert and determines which types of metals and plastics may be used for different shuttle jobs. That might sound easy, and in some cases it is, but in special applications it can get tricky. For example, there are thousands of different kinds of steel] BURNED BY "BURNING WATER" IN THE SHOWER
Dian Hardison http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/team/hardison.html August 5, l997 An important component of many fluid systems is a "backflow preventer," a kind of check valve. You wouldn't want your toilet water backing up into your house's water lines.... It's even more important when the fluid in the lines is poisonous. While flushing out a molecular sieve -- a piece of equipment used to remove iron and other contaminants from nitrogen tetroxide (N2O4) so that the contaminants won't get into the shuttle engine tubing -- one of those backflow preventers failed. The problem was that it was inside the water pipelines, and there was no way to tell it was leaking. The next day, the mechanics were rinsing off their hands and face in the safety shower when a puff of N2O4 gas came out of the safety shower! This is a lot worse than finding half a worm in the apple you just bit into. N2O4 is highly toxic, and causes burns on contact. So we had to shut down the water system to the whole area and sample it at a dozen places to find the source of the N2O4. Sure enough, there it was, at the same place that had been used to rinse out the molecular sieve. So we had to dig up the lines and replace the backflow preventer, then flush the whole system out. This is a pretty expensive way to water the lawn. Some people think working on the space program is glamorous and high-tech, but all too often it's the little things -- like one leaky valve -- that take up most of our day! [Editor's note: Roger is a mechanical engineer who works at the LETF (Launch Equipment Test Facility) at the Kennedy Space Center. He tests various pieces of ground support equipment for use at the space shuttle launch pads. Roger decides how to test a piece of equipment, obtains any and all equipment and supplies required, writes the test procedures, directs the various support people and providing the test data in a useful form.] LEARNING HOW TO HANDLE FLOWING OXYGEN
Roger Koss http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/team/koss.html July 16, l997 Recently , I had to perform a special test on some Pressure Regulating Unit Assemblies which are to be used in the processing of components for the International Space Station in the new Space Station Processing Facility here at KSC. These units were designed to regulate the flow and pressure of gaseous nitrogen, gaseous helium, and gaseous oxygen, but had been qualification tested only in nitrogen. It was decided that these units needed to be flow tested with oxygen as well. Flowing oxygen reacts with many substances to cause increased flammability and can cause nasty things like spontaneous combustion of components, and in general it makes EVERYTHING burn if not handled properly. Unfortunately, not all of these hazards can be addressed during the design phase of an oxygen system. It was important that any failure occur in test, not when the units were connected to Space Station hardware. Since we are an off-line test facility, it was decided to test these panels here at the LETF. In two weeks I had to: learn all I could about handling oxygen safely, write and get approval of a test procedure, stage all of the supplies, equipment and test articles needed for the test, arrange for the various support services like Propellants, Gas Sampling and the Fire Department, and actually conduct the test I wrote the procedure for. If you are familiar with large organizations, you know that generally, things do not happen that quickly . But, with the help of a great many good people, we were able to accomplish the test in time. After researching oxygen handling and safety, I wrote a test procedure which was approved with only minor changes by all concerned parties. Using the Federal Supply Catalog on the KSC Intranet and with help from my company's logistics people, I designed a simple test setup and ordered the components for it. The parts were then sent out for cleaning, and when they were returned, the technicians in the Pneumatics Shop quickly assembled the test setup, and we were able to conduct the test a day ahead of schedule. We obtained good test results, and most importantly, there were no incidents and no impact to the schedule. Once again I was able to learn some new things, and I'm very proud to have contributed in a very minor way to the Space Station effort. STATUS OF COLUMBIA PROCESSING
Below and in the future, we'll provide some details about the post flight work being done after STS-94 and the subsequent processing of Columbia as it gets ready to fly again as STS-87. These reports will contain jargon and unfamiliar terms; our intent is not to confuse you, but to provide a glimpse at all the steps involved. Detailed daily reports about Columbia's processing can be found at the NASA Shuttle Status web site at http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/status/status.htm Since the last updates-sto message, removal of the main engines was completed. Functional testing of the Shuttle's aft and main propulsion systems is underway. Over the weekend, technicians planned to remove Columbia's oxidizer cross-feed line from the orbiter maneuvering system to isolate the line and complete draining activities. Once the line is clear, leak checks and repair work will follow next week. On August 9, technicians completed voltage tests on Columbia's fuel cells. Engineers evaluated irregular voltage readings from fuel cell No. 1. and determined that the fuel cell is good and will fly on STS-87. Replacement of a flow valve on fuel cell No. 2 is in work. Fuel cell No. 3 may need a cell performance monitor replaced before launch. STS-87 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only): * Power reactant storage and distribution system testing (Aug. 20) * Auxiliary power unit servicing and checkout (Aug. 20)
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