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Forum:	Space Shuttles - Space Station
Topic:	ISS 18: 2/4 reboost canceled amid structural damage concerns

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Your Reply: HTML is ON UBB Code is ON Smilies Legend	[QUOTE]Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: [B]A planned re-boost of the International Space Station on Wednesday was canceled today amid concerns that the station may have been structurally damaged after the previous reboost on January 14 cut-off abruptly. On January 29, NASA's [URL=http://spaceoperations.nasa.gov/iss_reports/reports2009/01-29-2009.htm]On-Orbit Status[/URL] noted the following: <BLOCKQUOTE>Reboost Oscillations Update: As structures specialists continue in-depth loads analysis of the 1/14 reboost anomaly, the call for the next reboost on 2/4 with the SM twin main engines is awaiting a Go/No-Go decision, to be made by the joint IMMT (ISS Mission Management Team) on Monday (2/2). [As of now, evaluation of the external video survey conducted over the last weekend and a review of subsystem data have not shown any off-nominal results.]</BLOCKQUOTE> USA Today [URL=http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2009-02-02-nasa_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip]reported today[/URL] that the extra jostling from the reboost anomaly last month "may have caused damage to the station that could affect its longevity." <BLOCKQUOTE>[i]The station was built with extra structural strength, [NASA spokesman Kelly] Humphries said, and the current analysis is "just making sure we haven't eaten into that margin."[/i]</BLOCKQUOTE> The reboost was to have used thrusters on a Progress cargo ship docked to the Pirs docking compartment to bring the station into a better position for the arrival of the Progress M-66 (32P), which is scheduled to launch on February 9 and dock on February 13. The reboost was also to prepare for the arrival of Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft carrying the Expedition 19 crew and spaceflight participant Charles Simonyi next month. With the reboost canceled, the launch of Soyuz TMA-14 will be delayed by one day to March 26. According to NASA, today's decision will not affect the STS-119 mission, which is scheduled to launch to the ISS <strike>on February 12</strike> no earlier than February 19. [/B][/QUOTE]
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<table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width="600"><TR><td bgcolor="#000000"><TABLE BORDER=0 cellpadding=4 border=0 cellspacing=1 WIDTH="100%"><TR bgcolor="#660000"><TD COLSPAN=2><CENTER><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#ffffff" FACE="sans-serif">T O P I C     R E V I E W</font></CENTER></TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#494949"><TD valign=top><FONT SIZE="2" FACE="sans-serif">Robert Pearlman</FONT></TD><TD><FONT SIZE="2" FACE="sans-serif">A planned re-boost of the International Space Station on Wednesday was canceled today amid concerns that the station may have been structurally damaged after the previous reboost on January 14 cut-off abruptly. <P>On January 29, NASA's <A HREF="http://spaceoperations.nasa.gov/iss_reports/reports2009/01-29-2009.htm" TARGET=_blank>On-Orbit Status</A> noted the following: <BLOCKQUOTE>Reboost Oscillations Update: As structures specialists continue in-depth loads analysis of the 1/14 reboost anomaly, the call for the next reboost on 2/4 with the SM twin main engines is awaiting a Go/No-Go decision, to be made by the joint IMMT (ISS Mission Management Team) on Monday (2/2). [As of now, evaluation of the external video survey conducted over the last weekend and a review of subsystem data have not shown any off-nominal results.]</BLOCKQUOTE> USA Today <A HREF="http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2009-02-02-nasa_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip" TARGET=_blank>reported today</A> that the extra jostling from the reboost anomaly last month "may have caused damage to the station that could affect its longevity." <BLOCKQUOTE><I>The station was built with extra structural strength, [NASA spokesman Kelly] Humphries said, and the current analysis is "just making sure we haven't eaten into that margin."</I></BLOCKQUOTE> The reboost was to have used thrusters on a Progress cargo ship docked to the Pirs docking compartment to bring the station into a better position for the arrival of the Progress M-66 (32P), which is scheduled to launch on February 9 and dock on February 13. The reboost was also to prepare for the arrival of Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft carrying the Expedition 19 crew and spaceflight participant Charles Simonyi next month.<P>With the reboost canceled, the launch of Soyuz TMA-14 will be delayed by one day to March 26. <P>According to NASA, today's decision will not affect the STS-119 mission, which is scheduled to launch to the ISS <strike>on February 12</strike> no earlier than February 19. </FONT></TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#333333"><TD valign=top><FONT SIZE="2" FACE="sans-serif">Robert Pearlman</FONT></TD><TD><FONT SIZE="2" FACE="sans-serif">MSNBC: <A HREF="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28998876/" TARGET=_blank>Shaking on space station rattles NASA</A> <BLOCKQUOTE><I>A faulty rocket command sequence aboard the international space station caused the 300-ton structure to shake back and forth vigorously for two minutes last month, during what was supposed to be a routine, gentle orbital adjustment. Space experts in Houston and Moscow have spent the last two weeks searching for the cause of the shaking and doing a damage assessment.<P>Under the worst-case scenario, such vibrations could rattle the station so much over the long term that the structure might begin to crack and leak. One of the solar arrays might bend out of position, affecting the station’s power-generating system. Experts cautioned that it was too early to determine how likely or unlikely these scenarios might be.<P>Partly as a result of last month's anomaly, a second rocket burn originally scheduled for Wednesday has been canceled. Since the maneuvers had been intended to line up the station’s path to receive future visiting spacecraft, the dates of those missions are now in doubt. A Russian Soyuz visit in late March already has been postponed a day.</I></BLOCKQUOTE> <CENTER><div><iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/28997825#28997825" frameborder="0" scrolling="no">

Robert Pearlman

NASA update:

The ISS Mission Management Team determined Tuesday that the station was not structurally damaged by the oscillations that were experienced during a Jan. 14 reboost. A reboost that had been scheduled Wednesday will not be performed while Russian flight controllers review procedures and techniques.
Undocking of the ISS Progress 31 cargo craft is scheduled for Thursday, and the launch and docking of Progress 32 remains on track for next week. Future reboosts will be timed with other planned activities to maximize rendezvous options for the various spacecraft scheduled to visit the station.

On-orbit Status:

ISS Reboost Update: The IMMT (ISS Mission Management Team) agreed this morning to a Russian proposal to postpone the reboosts that were planned for tomorrow (2/4) and Saturday (2/7). Additional reboost may not be necessary if the Soyuz launch is delayed by one day (landing would be delayed by 2 days & Soyuz docked operations increased by 1 day). May need a reboost in the March timeframe. In the meantime, SM jets (not ME engines) will be used in the case of a DAM (Debris Avoidance Maneuver) if necessary.

Delta7

Whew!

tegwilym

I guess that answers my question about a shuttle launch delay. Good everything is still holding together.

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