Shuttle launch cancelled

NASA web site countdown ^ | 11/10/02 | NASA

[Lokibob]

Due to an oxygen leak , today's launch of Shuttle Endeavour on STS-113 has been postponed. Stay tuned to our Live Countdown Coverage for further information.

[Lokibob]

The web page has a date of Nov 18th 2002, but no reason given for that date. It could be a misprint.

[Lokibob]

 

 

[strela]

The web page has a date of Nov 18th 2002, but no reason given for that date.

Its no misprint. According to the press conference held tonight, they have to separate the external fuel tank and the SRBs from the stack so they can get to the area where the leak is and troubleshoot it. They also have to open the payload bay doors on the orbiter and offload anything in there that's in the way. Doing all that, finding and fixing the leak, then zipping everything back together could easily take until 11/18. Its not like they can simply listen for the hiss of escaping oxygen then use a BernzoMatic torch to braze a bad weld; pure oxygen reacts rather badly to open flame and heat.

They did confirm during the press conference that they probably won't have to put the orbiter back on the crawler and take it back into the processing facility to do all this. Otherwise, we'd probably be looking at a month or more delay.

[Chemist_Geek]

According to the press conference held tonight, they have to separate the external fuel tank and the SRBs from the stack so they can get to the area where the leak is and troubleshoot it. They also have to open the payload bay doors on the orbiter and offload anything in there that's in the way. Doing all that, finding and fixing the leak, then zipping everything back together could easily take until 11/18.

Whoa, how can they do all that on the pad? Seems to me that maintenance that involved would require a trip back to the Vehicle Assembly Building. I hope they do it quickly, but more importantly, do it right guys.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

That's a little weird that the date is Nov. 18th, considering that I heard that the problem could be fixed in a day or two. They must have decided that the oxygen leak that caused the postponement cannot be fixed sooner than that.

[strela]

Whoa, how can they do all that on the pad?

Good question. Unless I misheard the NASA talking head, they've pretty much got to disassemble the stack to get to the leak, which sure sounds like a trip back to the VAB to me. Its much the same reason that fixing a blown head gasket in an automobile costs so much; the gasket itself is about 10 bucks, but getting to it is the other $3500.00 worth of trouble.

I hope they do it quickly, but more importantly, do it right guys.

And no smoking either, guys (LOX and flicking one's Bic ain't a happy combination).

[CatAtomic]

Actually, that Nov 18th launch date has been up on the site for some time(I'm headed to that area Monday and have been checking to see if any launches were scheduled).

I wonder if it is a deliberate attempt to obscure the real launch date because of terrorism...?

[OXENinFLA]

I heard on FNC last night that the reason the shuttle was going up (this was before it was postponed) was to bring vital repair parts for the CO2 revomal system on the ISS.

I hope they get this fixed soon.

[OldFriend]

A pound a minute leak in the oxygen system. Postponed for at least one week.......as per Paul Harvey 8:30a.m. eastern

[strela]

All that liquid oxygen just sitting there in the open for days and days.

That's been a concern ever since 9/11. The fact that no serious attempt has yet been made to sabotage/destroy a Shuttle apparently means their security is adequate to date. Or, maybe the terrorists simply want an easier target of opportunity.