posted 04-28-2013 07:55 PM
They look like they are doing a fantastic job on this museum. I saw Discovery last year at the Udvar Hazy Center and it was great but it is difficult to see the top surfaces of the spacecraft. This museum looks far more dynamic allowing full view of the entire spacecraft. I cannot wait to see it.
xlsteve Member
Posts: 391 From: Holbrook MA, USA Registered: Jul 2008
posted 04-29-2013 04:25 PM
Looks great, but it seems to me that there is more construction to be done around the orbiter (railing installation for one thing), so I wonder why they didn't wait until some of that was completed before unwrapping her.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-29-2013 04:45 PM
I asked about this and they said they need the time to open the payload bay doors, a process that requires a couple of weeks, and wanted enough time to have a margin for that activity before the public opening.
ringo67 Member
Posts: 179 From: Seekonk, Mass., USA Registered: May 2003
posted 04-30-2013 08:43 PM
quote:Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: I asked about this and they said they need the time to open the payload bay doors...
I've been wondering, will someone have to climb inside to open the doors, or is there an external mechanism?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-30-2013 09:00 PM
The yellow strongbacks attached to the doors, as well as additional hardware that will be soon installed on them, will be used in conjunction with wires running to pulleys on the ceiling to open the doors. No one will be entering the orbiter.
(After the doors are open, there are two window washer-like buckets/platforms that can be lowered from the ceiling to allow workers to get inside the payload bay as needed — for example, to install the replica Canadarm.)
ringo67 Member
Posts: 179 From: Seekonk, Mass., USA Registered: May 2003
posted 04-30-2013 09:27 PM
Thanks, Robert. I figured it would be something like that.
After I posted the question, I realized that even if someone was going to go inside to electrically open the doors, there wouldn't be any power as Atlantis has been powered down.
dabolton Member
Posts: 419 From: Seneca, IL, US Registered: Jan 2009
posted 05-01-2013 08:38 AM
Will the yellow strongbacks remain on the doors permanently?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-01-2013 08:40 AM
Yes, but given the angle at which Atlantis is mounted, they will be out of view.
SpaceKSCBlog Member
Posts: 119 From: Merritt Island, FL Registered: Nov 2011
posted 05-01-2013 07:33 PM
The left-side SRB frustum went up today, along with framework for the external tank replica. More photos here on my blog.
Ronpur Member
Posts: 1211 From: Brandon, Fl Registered: May 2012
posted 05-01-2013 10:29 PM
The original art I saw for the SRB/ET had a orbiter shaped outline in the place of the orbiter. Is this just a flat outline or will it have any other features to give it a 3D look? Or will we just have to wait to see the final version? Too bad there isn't a fiberglass replica orbiter to be mounted on the ET.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-02-2013 03:28 AM
The orbiter outline had been an idea (as reflected in the conceptual art) but didn't make it past the engineering review. The display outside will be only the solid rocket boosters and external tank, with the orbiter (Atlantis) waiting to be revealed inside.
MrSpace86 Member
Posts: 1618 From: Gardner, KS, USA Registered: Feb 2003
posted 05-02-2013 01:31 PM
Out of the four Canadarms remaining, isn't one going to be on display with Atlantis? Robert, you said it was going to be a replica on display.
Out of the four, the first was just unveiled in Ontario, another is at Udvar-Hazy, the other was left on the ISS, meaning the final one is at KSC?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-02-2013 02:03 PM
The arm exhibited with Atlantis is a replica. The fate of the five Canadarm robotic arms is described in our article about the Ottawa display.
The original arm is now one of two on public display, the other exhibited alongside the retired shuttle Discovery at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in northern Virginia.
The last of the Candarms to fly in space, the SRMS flown aboard the final space shuttle mission, STS-135 in July 2011, was shipped to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston for engineering study and possible reuse on a future mission. One Canadarm was lost in flight with the destruction of space shuttle Challenger in January 1986. Parts from the fifth arm were used to construct a boom to inspect the orbiters' heat shield for any damage sustained in flight.
MrSpace86 Member
Posts: 1618 From: Gardner, KS, USA Registered: Feb 2003
posted 05-02-2013 06:01 PM
Looks like we have to fix the Wikipedia article about Canadarm!!!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-02-2013 08:25 PM
Construction crews have begun cleaning space shuttle Atlantis following the removal of 16,000 square feet of plastic shrink-wrap.
(From what I understand, the cleaning amounts to a gentle, brush-tipped vacuuming just to remove any dust. They are still maintaining Atlantis' post-flight appearance.)
OV-105 Member
Posts: 816 From: Ridgecrest, CA Registered: Sep 2000
posted 05-03-2013 03:20 PM
Wouldn't it be great after someone asked you what did you do at work today, to be able to say I was vacuuming the shuttle.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-07-2013 07:49 AM
Work to open the payload bay doors began on Monday (May 6) with the installation of clamps and wires. This morning (Tuesday), the starboard door is being opened.
Also on Monday, the second of two nosecones was installed on the twin, 151-foot-tall solid rocket booster replicas that will serve as the gateway for the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-07-2013 09:14 AM
Payload bay opening status as of 10:05 a.m. EDT:
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-07-2013 10:34 AM
Payload bay opening status as of 10:35 a.m. EDT:
11:05 a.m. EDT:
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-10-2013 09:17 AM
The port, or left-side door was opened Friday morning (May 10).
crash Member
Posts: 318 From: West Sussex, England Registered: Jan 2011
posted 05-10-2013 11:29 AM
Great photos, Robert. Pity that I will be standing outside the building on Tuesday next week and not able to get a look-see.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 05-10-2013 12:15 PM
Robert, will there be a viewing point for the orbiter that matches the stills from the webcam or is the "first floor" parade adjacent to the payload bay as high as the public will get?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-10-2013 12:35 PM
The view on the webcam is from a ceiling mounted camera, so no, there will be no opportunity for the public to get as high. There are catwalks (from which NASA photographers have been allowed to shoot during the construction) but will be for maintenance purposes only as the exhibit opens.
SpaceAngel Member
Posts: 307 From: Maryland Registered: May 2010
posted 05-11-2013 06:52 PM
Just to clarify, nothing will be put in Atlantis' empty cargo bay, right?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-11-2013 07:38 PM
The only thing being added to the payload bay is a replica Canadarm.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
When it was flying in orbit, space shuttle Atlantis' payload bay was opened to deploy probes to the planets, send satellites circling the Earth, and deliver the parts to assemble a space station.
Now that it's retired and being readied for museum display, the orbiter's cargo hold has been opened one last time — not to launch something out, but to welcome the public to look inside.
Zach121k Member
Posts: 62 From: Fenton, Missouri, USA Registered: Feb 2013
posted 05-12-2013 06:59 PM
I predict people will throw crap in Atlantis' cargo bay...
JSC01 Member
Posts: 84 From: Houston, Texas, USA Registered: Nov 2011
posted 05-12-2013 07:47 PM
Actually I was wondering the same thing... if you jump back and look at the renderings at the top of the thread, it looks like the walkway was represented as being pushed back a bit, which would then not obstruct the 'full view' of Atlantis. In the latest images, it looks like that walkway goes right over the wing. Close is good, but I don't think you can get a full ship picture now without including folks on that walkway.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-12-2013 08:11 PM
There are two window washer-like buckets/platforms mounted on the ceiling that can lower workers into the payload bay, in part to allow a periodic cleaning.
Yes, the upper platform passes over the port wing. The original artist renderings gave a general idea as to the concept for the exhibit but were not a blueprint for its construction (or based on the blueprints).
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member
Posts: 3445 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
posted 05-12-2013 09:17 PM
quote:Originally posted by Zach121k: I predict people will throw crap in Atlantis' cargo bay...
There's an idea. Place a bucket in the payload bay and have people pitch their spare change to support NASA. People like to get rid of their pennies, anyway...
Zach121k Member
Posts: 62 From: Fenton, Missouri, USA Registered: Feb 2013
posted 05-12-2013 10:39 PM
That is now my main goal... insert own cargo into cargo bay.
ilbasso Member
Posts: 1522 From: Greensboro, NC USA Registered: Feb 2006
posted 05-13-2013 10:58 AM
The National Air and Space Museum had to remove the Curtiss NC-4 from display on the ground floor of the museum. It was under a walkway. People liked to throw change over the edge and watch it bounce off the NC-4's fabric-covered wings. There were so many coins being tossed that the airplane sustained damage.
I shudder to think of people treating Atlantis that way. That's always the danger when you put artifacts up close and personal to the public.
posted 05-13-2013 05:41 PM
It happens everywhere. People often have no respect for important artifacts.
I was in the Valley of the Kings near Luxor Egypt once, and looked down a rock cut stone stair well of a closed tomb and saw the entrance had been filled with empty water bottles. A four thousand year old tomb entrance used as a garbage can.
Zach121k Member
Posts: 62 From: Fenton, Missouri, USA Registered: Feb 2013
posted 05-14-2013 02:51 PM
It's sad really... with how fragile the shuttle is in the first place. I really hope people would respect Atlantis.
At least there isn't any graffiti on any rockets in the garden.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-14-2013 03:36 PM
Atlantis isn't that fragile. Unless you are a professional baseball player pitching fastballs into the payload bay, pennies and other detritus won't leave much of a dent (actually, won't leave a dent at all).
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-23-2013 09:27 AM
While I appreciate the Canadian Space Agency wish to display the Canadarm at the agency, I wish they had left the arm on Atlantis. It was an important piece of equipment and I would prefer to see it proudly displayed on the spacecraft where it belonged.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
NASA wanted to retain it for engineering study and possible future reuse. It is now at the Johnson Space Center for those purposes.
Atlantis' weight needed to be reduced to allow for its angled display. The real arm would also have been too heavy to display outstretched and so a replica was fabricated.
posted 04-28-2013 05:57 PM
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