As we close out 2007, it’s time to look back at the year in space.
- ABC
- Florida Today
- MSNBC (Cosmic Log)
- MSNBC (Year In Pictures)
- NASA
- National Geographic
- Space.com
- Sky & Telescope
And here’s wishing everyone a happy, healthy, prosperous 2008!
News From Space!
The Original Space Weblog
STS-122: No Launch Till January
The ECO issue came up again during this morning’s tanking, which means Atlantis and Columbus won’t fly until next month. NASA reports:
Launch Targeted for Jan. 2
Dec. 9 -11:30 a.m. EST
Space shuttle Atlantis’ STS-122 mission to the International Space Station is targeted to launch no earlier than Jan. 2 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The liftoff date depends on the resolution of a problem in a fuel sensor system.
Early Sunday, one of the four engine cutoff, or ECO, sensors inside the liquid hydrogen section of Atlantis’ external fuel tank gave a false reading while the tank was being filled. NASA’s current Launch Commit Criteria require that all four sensors function properly.
The sensor system is one of several that protect the shuttle’s main engines by triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low. Atlantis’ scheduled launch on Thursday, Dec. 6, was delayed after two liquid hydrogen ECO sensors gave false readings.
The crew of STS-122 will be heading back to Houston on Sunday evening but before leaving they expressed their gratitude for the effort to launch.
“We want to thank everyone who worked so hard to get us into space this launch window,” the astronauts said in a statement. “We had support teams working around the clock at KSC, JSC, and numerous sites in Europe. We were ready to fly, but understand that these types of technical challenges are part of the space program. We hope everyone gets some well-deserved rest, and we will be back to try again when the vehicle is ready to fly.”
The main objective of Atlantis’ 11-day mission is to install and activate the European Space Agency’s Columbus laboratory, which will provide scientists around the world the ability to conduct a variety of life, physical and materials science experiments.
Discussion here. Press Release here. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.
STS-122: Launch Saturday?
Mission managers are working the fuel-sensor issue today, to see if they can get Atlantis, with the ISS’s Columbus Module aboard, on orbit tomorrow. NASA reports:
Managers to Discuss Atlantis Launch Today
Dec. 7 - 8:45 a.m. EST
The launch of NASA’s space shuttle Atlantis will take place no earlier than Saturday, Dec. 8, at 3:43 p.m. EST. Thursday’s scheduled liftoff from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Fla., was postponed because of a problem with a fuel cutoff sensor system inside the shuttle’s external fuel tank.The fuel cutoff sensor system is one of several that protect the shuttle’s main engines by triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low. Launch Commit Criteria require that three of the four sensor systems function properly before liftoff.
Space Shuttle Program managers will hold a Mission Management Team meeting Friday at 2 p.m. to discuss the issue and determine the steps necessary to start a new launch countdown. A news conference will be held at about 5 p.m. after the meeting’s conclusion.
On Thursday morning, two of the four engine cutoff, or ECO, sensors inside the liquid hydrogen section of the tank failed a routine prelaunch check. Following the launch postponement, the tank’s liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen were drained. While the tank was being emptied, engineers monitored and collected data on the liquid hydrogen sensors that failed. During that process, another sensor gave a false reading, indicating that the tank was “wet,” when it was dry. All ECO sensors are now indicating dry as they should be.
During Atlantis’ 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the shuttle and station crews will work with ground teams to install and activate the European Space Agency’s Columbus laboratory. The new lab will expand the station’s scientific research capabilities.
Media Resources
› STS-122 Press Kit (15 Mb PDF)
› STS-122 Fact Sheet (7.6 Mb PDF)
› STS-122 TV Schedule
› ECO Sensor’s Morning Press Briefing (Real Player Video)Engine Cutoff (ECO) sensors graphics:
› LH2 ECO Sensor Locations
› Overall Schematic of ECO and Liquid Level (Point) Sensors
› Orbiter Avionics Bays
› Orbiter Aft Avionics Bays
› Functional Block Diagram of Point Sensor Box
› Exploded View of Point Sensor Box
More pics here and here. Local news videos here. Discussion here. News Resources here. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.
STS-122: Launch Scrubbed!
OK, it’s all my fault. I jinxed it. I posted that we “will” be launching. If I had written that we are “scheduled” to launch, Atlantis would by on orbit by now! - TonyF
A fuel-sensor problem caused mission managers to postpone launching Atlantis today. NASA reports:
Atlantis Launch Postponed
Image above: Space shuttle Atlantis stands on Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo credit: NASA TVDec. 6, 10:30 a.m. EST: During tanking, two of four LH2 Engine Cutoff (ECO) sensors failed to respond appropriately, which is a Launch Commit Violation. The requirement to proceed calls for 3 of 4. The launch was scrubbed at 9:56 a.m. EST on the recommendation of Launch Director Doug Lyons.
Mission Management Team Chairman LeRoy Cain concurred following a short briefing on the issue. The ice inspection team will proceed with an abbreviated vehicle inspection prior to offloading the LO2 and LH2 and recycle for a launch attempt tomorrow, at 4:09 p.m.
A press briefing is tentatively scheduled for 4 p.m. An update is forthcoming on NASA TV.
Preflight pics and video are up at the JSC Gallery. Today’s photos here. Discussion here. News Resources here. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.
