|
|
|
|
 |
| Image above: Mission Management Team officials participate
in a press conference Tuesday evening. From left: Kennedy Space Center
News Chief Bruce Buckingham; LeRoy Cain, Space Shuttle Program launch
integration manager; Mike Suffredini, International Space Station
Program manager; Frederic Nordlund, head of the European Space Agency's
Washington Office; and U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Kaleb Nordgren, 45th
Weather Squadron. Image Credit: NASA |
•
Watch NASA TV
Mission Management Team Update
The countdown is proceeding on the right timeline for Thursday night's
launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-116 mission, according to
NASA's Mission Management Team, which met yesterday at Kennedy Space Center
in Florida.
At a Tuesday evening press conference, Space Shuttle Program Launch
Integration Manager LeRoy Cain pointed out the challenge faced by the
processing team that has prepared Discovery for its second flight since
July, and praised the team for their hard work.
"The preparation of the vehicle and teams has been outstanding,"
Cain said. "It's consistent with what the team has been doing time
after time, case after case, problem after problem."
Two new issues are under investigation tonight: the adhesive on a reusable
solid rocket motor's pressure seal, and a brief rise in voltage in a mobile
launcher platform power supply unit connected to the orbiter. Cain stated
that more data is needed, and that employees are working to understand
and resolve the issues. At this time, though, launch is still on schedule
for Thursday at 9:35 p.m. EST.
The weather forecast is another matter. A cold front is expected to pass
through the launch area during the day on Thursday, possibly bringing
lingering cloud cover behind it, according to U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Kaleb
Nordgren of the 45th Weather Squadron. Because of this possibility, the
chance of weather cooperating for liftoff is 60%. A strong pressure gradient
behind that front will bring windy conditions to Kennedy on Friday and
Saturday, so launch attempts on those days would be met with only a 40%
chance of favorable weather.
The launch countdown began at 11 p.m. Monday at the T-43 hour mark. Included
in the countdown are nearly 28 hours of built-in hold time prior to a
targeted 9:35 p.m. EST launch on Thursday.
The STS-116 mission is the 33rd for Discovery and the 117th space shuttle
flight. During the 12-day mission, the crew will continue construction
on the International Space Station, rewiring the orbiting laboratory adding
a segment to its integrated truss structure.
A countdown status briefing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday.
•
Watch NASA TV
|
|
|
