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Space Shuttle Atlantis Landing Live Thread (05/22/09 10:01 AM)
05/22/09 | Kevin Davis

Posted on 05/21/2009 7:30:23 PM PDT by KevinDavis

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To: Young Werther

Heard the funniest thing today. The toilet is clogged on the shuttle (not funny), and the following exchange took place (paraphrased):

“We recommend cycling the WFC actuator”
“You mean jiggle the handle?”


21 posted on 05/22/2009 6:21:33 AM PDT by MrB (Go Galt now, Bowman later)
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To: element92

No kidding. They send 6 repair missions. For that kind of money they could have launched a couple of reliable replacements.


22 posted on 05/22/2009 7:12:55 AM PDT by TalonDJ
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To: Young Werther
The original plan was one launch a week with a month turnaround for the 4 shuttle fleet. Congress didn't fund the upgrades necessary to support this flight schedule. Each shuttle had a one hundred flight lifetime and then a new space craft would be designed, built and to replace the "old" shuttles.

Now NASA is going to replace the fleet with Apollo era capsules. If NASA has its way in the N Aeronautical S A replacement regime the BA-747 will be replaced by the


Well they are no where near their '100 missions. Not only that but Apollo was always a safer design. The failures that killed Challenger and Columbia would have either not happened or been survivable using a 'top of booster' capsule type craft. Wings look cool but are just a huge load of useless weight you haul up to space every mission. The Shuttles design was dictated by a number of poor decisions and bad assumptions. Hopefully they can avoid some of those this time. The biggest bad decisions was 'payload return' and it dictated most of the design of the shuttle.
23 posted on 05/22/2009 7:18:50 AM PDT by TalonDJ
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To: MrB
Sounds like a line from Space Balls!

Brooks is well known for his bathroom humor. In this case the ballcock is stuck and you have to giggle the handle!

24 posted on 05/22/2009 7:20:42 AM PDT by Young Werther (Julius Caesar (Quae Cum Ita Sunt. Since these things are so.))
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To: TalonDJ
Freon was used as a propellant to apply the Spray On Foam Insualtion. It was replaced because of the ozone depletion treaty. The change of propellant and the elimination of the white paint lead to the foam chunks falling off the tank and stricking the shuttle tiles.

The stats are there before with freon and white paint, very little tile damage. After major damage. My best bud worked at Michoud and said that the SOFI would cure with holes and cracks where the SOFI would not cure correctly. NASA required that these scetions be cut out and the form would be filled using trowels and scopes just like a platerer would fill cracks in a wall. Roll the shuttle out to the pad and the sea air would cover the shuttle and would fill the cracks in the tanks. fill the tank with cryogenic fuel for take off and ice would form on the tank and the water in the cracks would freeze and voila ice expands and loosens the chunk. The chunk of SOFI and ice would separate and would separate and strick the shuttle.

BTW the tiles were going to be replaced by a metal tile system after about 25 flight but Congress wouldn't provide the funding.

The Venture Star and its new engine would have improve spaceflight but would have eliminated the external flight by being a single stage to orbit!

25 posted on 05/22/2009 7:39:49 AM PDT by Young Werther (Julius Caesar (Quae Cum Ita Sunt. Since these things are so.))
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To: Young Werther
Yeah, SSTO would have been nice.

I was not talking about the freon though but about the fundamentals of having an unstable body reentering the atmosphere. Structural failure took the wing off but it was tumbling that took it all apart and killed the crew. All the biggest problems the shuttle had were introduced in the conceptualization phase. Had they built a bigger better apollo we would have far more space vehicles now. Of course that is moot because something less big and sex as the shuttle would never have gotten funded. So hind sight is pointless. But what we need NOW is cheaper and more reliable access. What burns me is that they are going to shink it and make it hold far fewer people than the shuttle.

26 posted on 05/22/2009 7:46:32 AM PDT by TalonDJ
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To: Young Werther
The Venture Star and its new engine would have improve spaceflight but would have eliminated the external flight by being a single stage to orbit!

The problem with Single Stage to Orbit is that you've got to drag that big-ass fuel tank around all the time, which requires a bigger tank, which is heavier, which requires a bigger tank, and so on....

The mathematics of staging are compelling.

27 posted on 05/22/2009 7:55:52 AM PDT by r9etb
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To: r9etb
The problem was weight. It wouldn't be the first time tha weight problems would need to be addressed. The program was cancelled by NASA and a next generation engine was put on the shelf.

The linear spike engine was unique in that its thurst remained constant from ground launch to orbit insertion. This engine should be first in line for future launch vehicles and the bell shaped engine should be put on the shelf.

28 posted on 05/22/2009 8:33:37 AM PDT by Young Werther (Julius Caesar (Quae Cum Ita Sunt. Since these things are so.))
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To: markman46

As always, hoping for an Edwards landing here:-)


29 posted on 05/22/2009 11:44:47 AM PDT by La Enchiladita
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To: La Enchiladita
La Enchiladita,
I am traveling to Edwards tonight to see the possible landing. I've never been. Can you give me some advice on viewing location, possible approaches, etc? Thanks.
30 posted on 05/22/2009 2:24:06 PM PDT by Combat Override Button
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To: Combat Override Button

My son is at 29 Palms. I told him to check the news to see if the approach might be near him.


31 posted on 05/22/2009 3:25:04 PM PDT by don-o (My son, Ben - Marine Private First Class - 1/16/09 - Parris Island, SC)
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To: La Enchiladita

love the boom boom


32 posted on 05/22/2009 4:45:25 PM PDT by al baby (Hi Mom)
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To: Vaquero

Thanks Vaquero!


33 posted on 05/22/2009 5:29:58 PM PDT by potlatch
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To: KevinDavis

The space shuttle is due to be decommissioned next year. Where do we go from there? Russia?! DAMN. That is SO LOW. Oh, how far we have fallen. America’s best days are behind her.


34 posted on 05/22/2009 6:37:15 PM PDT by LiberConservative
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To: La Enchiladita

I always like the edwards landings.. very cool, hope I can get to see one before shuttle retirement next yr


35 posted on 05/22/2009 7:59:31 PM PDT by markman46 (engage brain before using keyboard!!!)
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To: al baby; markman46

Oh yeah, I forgot the second boom, lol. I woke up early and listened but nothing. Landing scrubbed again, moved to manana.


36 posted on 05/23/2009 12:15:26 PM PDT by La Enchiladita
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To: Combat Override Button

No idea. I have never gone in person. Let us know how it goes.


37 posted on 05/23/2009 12:16:29 PM PDT by La Enchiladita
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To: KevinDavis

want to start another one for Sunday?


38 posted on 05/23/2009 7:03:46 PM PDT by al baby (Hi Mom)
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