STS-118

SpaceCanada · Post by **SpaceCanada** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:05 pm

My photos from the NASA tour (SSPF, OPF) and the launch have been posted online:

http://spacecamp.ibnerd.net/main.php?g2_itemId=14309

ApolloXI · Post by **ApolloXI** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:39 pm

NASA has just announced that there will not be EVA to repair Endeavour's damaged tile structure. Commander Scott Kelly thanked MMT for the news and thank you for working on the issue.

Hotdog · Post by **Hotdog** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:08 am

if I was commander of this mission, i'd send someone out to fix it anyway. why take a risk if you don't have to?

iheartspacecamp · Post by **iheartspacecamp** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:22 am

yeah... I would feel much more comfortable by having someone fix it. That's just me though

Conan · Post by **Conan** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:40 am

It's easy to say just fix the problem, but not so easy to do. With the lack of hand or foot holds on the bottom side of the orbiter and the lack of any tether points it becomes a dangerous and difficult repair job with a good chance of doing more damage to the tiles than what you are trying to repair. I don't blame NASA for not making the attempt if they have determined that it is not necessary.

Pete Conrad Fan · Post by **Pete Conrad Fan** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 8:13 am

Well now they're coming home a day early due to Hurricane Dean threatening the Houston area. It's possible there will be a mandatory evacuation of Flight Controllers.

Hotdog · Post by **Hotdog** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 10:48 am

could a skeleton crew of backup flight controllers assemble at MSFC if necissary to bring the shuttle in? interesting scenario, a non-Houston controlled flight. what happens in this situation?

gt0163c · Post by **gt0163c** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 12:29 pm

While I don't know for certain, I would think that there are two options. 1. Go with an alternate crew who is based in Florida.
2. Fly the Houston crew to Florida.
I would think that option 2 would be the prefered solution. At that point, only the room is different (provided they have the ability to bring up the same screens in different locations. Anyone know what software the control room uses?).

I would think that NASA also has an alternate control room based somewhere else. I can see were there might be a situation where both the Johnson and Kennedy control rooms were unable to be used (hurricanes in both the Gulf and Atlantic perhaps). I would be very surprised if contingency plans hadn't already been made to shift to a different location, perhaps Edwards or maybe even Pax River (Maryland). Both locations have flight test control rooms. And, again, based on what software is run in MOCR, I don't think it would be that difficult to reconfigure a control room to run the shuttle displays.

Mercergl · Post by **Mercergl** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 1:02 pm

It now looks like the hurricane will not make landfall in Texas, but that still isn't certain

gt0163c · Post by **gt0163c** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 1:07 pm

Which is good....although I wouldn't have minded the rain.

I live in Fort Worth, when hurricanes in the Gulf make landfall, we usually just get rain and cooler temperatures a day or three later.

iheartspacecamp · Post by **iheartspacecamp** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 6:58 pm

I had read somewhere (Cant find it now) that if the control room in FL was as high tech as the one in Houston, they would have had no doubt in just moving MCC to FL. apparently FL hasnt been upgraded.

Hotdog · Post by **Hotdog** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:43 am

Endeavour is home safe! Whew!

SpaceCanada · Post by **SpaceCanada** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 12:09 pm

Well done! Welcome Home!

STS-118

Fixing the problem