Last night, while venting shuttle Discovery's aft fuel propellant tanks in preparation for fuel loading, the Right Reaction Control System (RRCS) fuel helium tank pressure unexpectedly decreased in unison with the RRCS fuel propellant tank. Troubleshooting overnight revealed at least one helium isolation valve that is leaking or is remaining in the open position when it is expected to be closed.Following a review meeting this morning, engineers have decided to complete Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) Reaction Control System fuel loading, Solid Rocket Booster Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU) tilt system and Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) hydrazine loads this weekend.Engineers will meet again Monday morning to discuss options.Currently, Rotating Service Structure (RSS) rotation will be delayed to no earlier than Tuesday, March 16; and payload delivery to the pad will be delayed to no earlier than Wednesday, March 17. Launch still is targeted for April 5.
At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians at Launch Pad 39A will work throughout the weekend to finish loading space shuttle Discovery's hypergolic propellants.Meanwhile, the STS-131 astronauts continue training at their home base in Houston in preparation for Discovery's launch on the next mission to the International Space Station, which is targeted for April 5.
At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians at Launch Pad 39A will work today and throughout the weekend to finish loading space shuttle Discovery's hypergolic propellants.Meanwhile, the STS-131 astronauts continue their training at their home base in Houston. Today, they'll get some flying time in T-38 training jets.Discovery's launch on the next mission to the International Space Station is targeted for April 5.
NASA has selected Jones Edmunds & Associates, Inc. of Gainesville, Fla., to provide civil and environmental design, engineering and other professional services.
NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate is inviting teams of undergraduate and graduate students throughout the country to participate in the fourth annual Systems Engineering Paper Competition.
At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida today, technicians at Launch Pad 39A are loading space shuttle Discovery's solid rocket booster hydraulic power units with hydrazine in preparation for its targeted launch on April 5.The STS-131 astronauts are reviewing docking and robotics systems manuals at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Commander Alan Poindexter and Pilot James P. Dutton Jr. will wrap up the day with a training run in the Shuttle Training Aircraft at the White Sands Space Harbor in Las Cruces, N.M.Yesterday, Space Shuttle Program managers wrapped up their review of Discovery's readiness for flight. The meeting was a precursor to the agency's executive-level review on March 26, which will establish a firm launch date for this next mission to the International Space Station.
NASA Television will cover the landing of two current International Space Station crew members and the launch of three upcoming station residents later in March and April.
The heads of the International Space Station (ISS) agencies from Canada, Europe, Japan, Russia, and the United States met in Tokyo, Japan, on March 11, 2010, to review ISS cooperation.
Preparations for the STS-131 mission are under way on several fronts today as Space Shuttle Program managers begin meeting to discuss Discovery's readiness for flight. The meeting is a precursor to the agency's executive-level review on March 26, which will establish a firm launch date for this next mission to the International Space Station. The launch is now targeted for April 5.Launch Pad 39A technicians at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida continue preparations to service Discovery's hypergolic system in addition to performing leak checks on the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate quick disconnects.In Houston, the STS-131 astronauts continue their work at NASA's Johnson Space Center as they participate in robotics and spacewalk system refresher training.
(continuing) - 14th Mar
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