The launch of Atlantis for mission STS 122 has been postponed until January 2 due to a fuel sensor problem. This sort of thing has happened before, so I’m curious why it will take so long to resolve. The NASA site doesn’t say why that I could see.
Anyway, in the meantime, Damaris has a great set of pictures of her next to the Shuttle doing the debris walkdown around the pad before launch. She’s crouching over in the flame trench! Yikes. There is no way you could get me there unless there were no Shuttle within a mile or two. I saw the movie Space Camp, and NASA might have to launch at a moment’s notice if a friendly robot decides to shoot some kids into space.
December 9th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
The story I read on CNN yesterday said they are worried about the sensor shutting off the main engine, before the shuttle makes orbit. Which would cause an emergency landing scenario.
The article also said that they were having problems fining the cause of malfunction.
http://rubyurl.com/qOj
December 9th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Just when I had almost concluded that Space Camp was a product of my overheated imagination, Phil Plait had to go and confirm its existence. The same thing happened with Explorers, when my college roommate revealed he’d seen it on Betamax. . . .
December 9th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
The current launch window closes on the 13th of Dec. NASA could try to launch on Monday the 10th, but then they would have to stand down two days to top off the consumables, so then would only have the 13th to try. They don’t want to launch now because they don’t understand the problem with the sensors yet and want time to get it right. The next launch window doesn’t open until the 30th or 31st, and they don’t want to try a launch over the holidays. So Jan 2 it is.
December 9th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Space camp, LOL!
I must go find that somewhere.
Moe
December 9th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Aw come on.
As long as they don’t have their finger on the ignition, where’s the danger?
I’d do it! Heck, I’d shove my head down in these exhaust pipes! (yea, I know that’s most likely not the name of the cones down there)
December 9th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
What’s the problem with the flame trench? Does it get warm during a launch or something?
Given the consequences of a catastrophic accident, I would rather they delay the launch. Not to minimize the value of the lives that would be lost, the loss of another shuttle would do kill the shuttle program and do irreparable harm to the longterm future of manned spaceflight in this country.
December 9th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
A shame – the fuel sensor problem has been around for a while and I hoped it had been fixed. Will SpaceX and Elon Musk take so long to sort out any problems along similar lines with Dragon? Not a chance.
December 9th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
I have always thought it would be interesting to look at the shuttle’s delay record, historically I mean. How many shuttle launches actually occur on time?
December 9th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Let us hope that the new Aries launch vehicle, along with the Orion spacecraft will be more reliable.
Going back to a simpler capsule design might be the right way to go after all.
December 9th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Better safe than sorry, I always say.
December 9th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Here’s a piece of advice for you: if you’re ever stuck in a flame trench with the shuttle about to launch, simply use the plastic explosives feature of your seiko wristwatch to gain access to an air vent – the flames never go further than about 20 feet down these vents and don’t use up all the oxygen. Then you can simply emerge at the other side and go about your business.
December 9th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Don’t they also have to wait until after the 1st due to the software problem they discovered last year w.r.t. having the shuttle in orbit during on New Years Day and the clocks resetting to zero?
December 9th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Andy, the one launch I witnessed was right on time, no delay or anything. They counted down, and varooooom! Launch! Very cool. That was STS 82, by the way, which put STIS on board Hubble.
December 9th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
I always just hope that the launch day (or night if I’m very lucky) occurs at a time when I can watch it with my kids (9, 7, and 4). Nothing is better than seeing human beings in giant rockets be blasted out of the atmosphere for getting young minds interested in learning about the universe. As an added bonus, if conditions are good, we can watch the first minute of the launch on TV, and then run outside to try and spot the orbiter as rises in the sky (although as far away as Gainesville things have to be just right for a good view).
December 10th, 2007 at 4:47 am
I saw another launch that was on schedule, Phil; Discovery’s latest trip.
Kudos to you Nancy A. for the explaination of the situation. Now I know what to tell classmates.
Is this a problem that can be solved without rolling back the shuttle to the VAB?
December 11th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Just when I had almost concluded that Betamax was a product of my overheated imagination, Blake Stacey had to go and confirm its existence.
December 14th, 2007 at 5:39 am
Another update for those keeping score:
The launch is now set for January 10th.
It’s meant to give more holiday time with their families.