NASA Holds Test to Verify Endeavour Tank Repairs

June 29, 2009

Michael Curie
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
michael.curie@xxxxxxxx

Kyle Herring
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
kyle.j.herring@xxxxxxxx

Candrea Thomas
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
candrea.k.thomas@xxxxxxxx
MEDIA ADVISORY: M09-118

NASA HOLDS TEST TO VERIFY ENDEAVOUR TANK REPAIRS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA will conduct a tanking test at the
agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, July 1, to
ensure repairs to space shuttle Endeavour's external fuel tank were
successful.

The test will be shown live on NASA Television beginning at 7 a.m.
EDT. It will be followed by a news conference at approximately 1 p.m.
Briefing participants will be shuttle program Launch Integration
Manager Mike Moses and STS-127 Launch Director Pete Nickolenko.

During the test, the external tank will be filled with liquid
hydrogen
and liquid oxygen, just as it is before launch. A hydrogen gas leak
at the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate, or GUCP, postponed Endeavour's
launch attempts June 13 and 17. The GUCP is attached to the venting
system used to carry excess hydrogen safely away from the launch pad.


Engineers determined the most likely cause of the leak is a slight
misalignment in the External Tank Carrier Assembly. The assembly was
fastened to the tank during manufacturing. The misalignment likely is
putting uneven pressure on a Teflon seal, causing a small leak when
extremely low temperatures occur during fueling.

Technicians replaced the old seal with a two-piece seal and added
small washers to counter any movement of the external tank carrier
assembly as the tank is fueled.

Endeavour's launch on the STS-127 mission is targeted for 7:39 p.m.
on
Saturday, July 11. The 16-day mission to the International Space
Station will feature five spacewalks and complete construction of the
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory. Astronauts will
attach a platform to the outside of the Japanese module that will
allow experiments to be exposed to space.

For the latest information about the STS-127 mission and its crew,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

STS-127 mission Commander Mark Polansky's Twitter account can be
followed at:

http://www.twitter.com/Astro_127

For information about the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

For information about NASA TV streaming video, downlink and schedule
information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

-end-
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: GO FEVER IS WELL ENTRENTCHED:(
    ... Schedule pressure propels NASA ... Foam danger is unresolved, but agency moves ahead with launch plans ... NASA has delivered a revamped external fuel tank to Kennedy ...
    (sci.space.shuttle)
  • Re: How to take a "free" ET to orbit.
    ... NASA is a very conservative organization when it comes to modifying ... NASA would have to accept payment in terms of delta-V of the Space ... Can I hook a line up the the Space Station Hydrogen dump port? ... Addition of radiator panel on the exterior of the External Tank ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: OT shuttle problem
    ... > The old formulation adhered to the main tank. ... The end result was the foam fell off on launch. ... trying to make something less hazardous to the environment if there's ... > for feel good PR and to employ a lot of bureaucrats at NASA. ...
    (rec.autos.sport.f1)
  • Re: Shuttle Viewing in the UK
    ... There is no doubt that NASA is more devoted to the dollar than ... >> The shuttle and the external tank have separated by the time they come ... > seems to me they are rushing this launch just like all the others. ...
    (uk.sci.astronomy)
  • Re: How to take a "free" ET to orbit.
    ... docking adaptor to attach the ET it to the Space Station. ... and NASA ... That LOX/LH2 won't stay in the tank. ... and LH2 cold. ...
    (sci.space.policy)