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STS-122

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STS-122
COSPAR ID2008-005A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.32486Edit this on Wikidata
End of mission

STS-122 is the next NASA Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS). It will be flown by Space Shuttle Atlantis. STS-122 will mark the 24th shuttle mission to the ISS, and the 121st space shuttle flight since STS-1.[2]

The primary objectives of STS-122 are to deliver the European built Columbus science laboratory to the station, and to return Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Daniel M. Tani to Earth. STS-122 will mark the final scheduled visit by Atlantis to the International Space Station. After Atlantis lands, the orbiter will be prepared for STS-125, the final servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope. The completion of STS-122 will leave ten flights remaining in the Space Shuttle program until its end in 2010, excluding two as-yet-unconfirmed Contingency Logistic Flights.[3]

The original target launch date for STS-122 was December 6, but due to engine cutoff sensor (ECO) reading errors, the launch was postponed to December 9, 2007.[4] During the second launch attempt, the sensors failed again, and the launch was halted.[5] A tanking test on December 18 revealed probable cause to lie with a connector between the external tank and the shuttle. The connector has been replaced and the shuttle is on target for a third launch attempt on February 7, 2008.[6][1]

Crew

* Number in parentheses indicates number of spaceflights by each individual prior to and including this mission.

Launching ISS Expedition 16 Crew

Landing ISS Expedition 16 Crew

Mission parameters

Columbus at Kennedy Space Center

Mission payloads

Illustration of the ISS after STS-122, highlighting the addition of the Columbus laboratory module.

STS-122 will be the ISS Assembly Flight 1E, bringing the European Columbus laboratory module to the station, along with the Biolab, Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL), European Drawer Rack (EDR), and European Physiology Modules (EPM) payloads.[9] STS-122 will also carry the Solar Monitoring Observatory (SOLAR), and European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF) payloads, which are mounted in the cargo bay on an ICC-Lite payload rack. A malfunctioning Control Moment Gyroscope (CMG) that was swapped out with a new one on STS-118 will be returned to Earth with STS-122.[10] A spare Drive Lock Assembly (DLA) will be sent to orbit in support of possible repairs to the starboard Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ) which is malfunctioning.[11] A Trundle Bearing was removed from the Starboard SARJ and will be returned to Earth with STS-122.

Outreach

Stowed within the Official Flight Kit (OFK), Atlantis will carry three green starting flags provided by NASCAR in recognition of the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on February 17, 2008, and the 50th anniversary of NASA on October 1, 2008. Once returned to Earth, one of the flown flags will be placed on public display at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida, one will be presented to the winner of the 2008 Daytona 500, and the third will be used by NASA as part of its anniversary activities.[12]

Mission background

The mission marks:[2][13]

  • 152nd manned US space launch.
  • 121st space shuttle flight since STS-1.
  • 96th post-Challenger mission.
  • 8th post-Columbia mission.
  • 8th visit to the International Space Station for Atlantis.

Mission timeline

Atlantis arrived at Launch pad 39A on November 10.

Launch preparations

The external tank (ET-125) arrived at the Kennedy Space Center on September 14, 2007, after traveling by barge from the Michoud Assembly Facility in Louisiana. The external tank was then transferred to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to be inspected, and have the Liquid oxygen feedline bracket modified, before being mated to the solid rocket boosters on October 17.

The external tank was attached to the solid rocket boosters on October 18, 2007, and Atlantis moved to the VAB on November 3, 2007.[14] With the entire stack placed upon the Mobile Launcher Platform, Atlantis moved to launch pad 39A on November 10, and the Columbus module was loaded into the orbiter's payload bay on November 12.[15] The terminal countdown demonstration test was completed on November 20.[16]

Following the final Flight Readiness Review on November 30, NASA managers announced that Atlantis was ready to fly, and the launch date of December 6 was confirmed.[17] The crew arrived at Kennedy Space Center on December 3, to prepare for the first launch attempt on December 6.[18]

December 6 (Launch attempt 1)

Image showing the location of the external tank LH2 cut-off sensors.

On Thursday December 6, 2007, 16 minutes into the loading of the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen into the external tank, two of the four liquid hydrogen Engine Cutoff (ECO) sensors failed to respond correctly, resulting in Launch Director Doug Lyons deciding to postpone the launch.[4][19] The fuel cutoff sensor system is one of a series of redundant systems that protect the shuttle's main engines, by triggering engine shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low. The Launch Commit Criteria (LCC) requires that three of the four sensor systems function properly prior to liftoff.[4] The scheduled launch time was tentatively postponed 48 hours to Saturday December 8, 2007, at 3:43 p.m. EST (20:43 UTC).[20] [19][21]

On Friday, December 7, managers evaluated the options to fly, under the flight rationale guidelines. The issue is thought to be in the wiring inside the external tank, that results in the ECO sensors reporting incorrectly.[22] During loading, testing of the ECO sensors is done to assure they function properly, but when the "dry tank" command was sent, the third and fourth sensors continued to report "wet" conditions. The concern was that if the tank did run dry, the sensors that control the shutdown of the shuttle's main engines, could possibly not send the shutdown command, resulting in running the tank dry. Managers are evaluating if the Launch Commit Criteria could be removed, allowing Atlantis to fly with two of four sensors, and augment the LCO system with on-ground monitoring of propellant use by the Flight Control staff. The other option would involve repair or replacement of the sensors, which would most likely require the orbiter be moved back into the Vehicle Assembly Building, and would rule out a December launch.[22]

Following the Mission Management Team meeting Friday night, Shuttle Program Director Wayne Hale explained during the press briefing that the team had discussed the issues at length, and had tentatively decided to attempt a Sunday launch.[23][24] The Launch Commit Criteria would be changed, and Flight Controller procedures would be finalized to allow for additional monitoring of the ECO system during ascent.[23] One of the changes to the LCC will be the requirement that during tanking, all four sensors must be operational. In the past, when this system has failed during the initial launch attempt, all four sensors performed normally during the next attempt. If this were the case for Sunday's launch attempt, it would be consistent with what has been seen in the past. If the sensors fail during re-tanking on Sunday, this would indicate that the issue is not consistent with the evidence seen in the past. Managers would hold an MMT meeting on Saturday to further discuss this rationale, and the Flight Controller procedures, before making a final decision.[23]

On Saturday, December 8, the Mission Management Team met to finalize plans for the Sunday launch, and discuss possible launch options.[25][26] There was a unanimous decision to attempt a Sunday launch using the modified Launch Commit Criteria.[25][26] The modified criteria requires all four ECO sensors to function normally during tanking, includes the implementation of a Flight Controller procedure to continue monitoring the ECO sensors after liftoff during ascent, and shortens the launch window from five minutes, to one minute to conserve fuel.[26] Those changes would be done only for the launch of STS-122, and are not permanent changes. Should any of the sensors give errors during tanking, the launch attempt would be scrubbed. Following STS-122, Space Shuttle Program Director Wayne Hale and Mission Management Team Chairman LeRoy Cain explained that there would be a variety of activities and procedures put into effect to address the ECO issues. A multi-center troubleshooting team would be convened, and changes to the main engines would be performed, to improve the way the engines use, and control the liquid hydrogen reserves, including upgrades to the flow meters inside the engines.[26]

December 9 (Launch attempt 2)

Fueling of Atlantis began at 5:55 a.m. EST (10:55 UTC). During fueling at 6:52 a.m. EST, the third ECO sensor failed wet, violating the modified Launch Commit Criteria that required all four sensors to function properly. The launch was officially scrubbed at 7:25 a.m. EST (12:25 UTC). Troubleshooting the problem would rule out a December launch.[27] NASA has since given a launch date of January 10, 2008.[28]

During the post-scrub news conference, Launch Director Doug Lyons said that a rollback to the Vehicle Assembly Building was not a situation managers were considering currently, and explained that the pad offers extensive access to the systems for troubleshooting and investigation.[29] "We can do extensive troubleshooting out there before we would entertain rolling back. There's not many things we can't do out at the launch pad that we could do in the VAB."[29] Managers have convened a short-term troubleshooting team to design a plan to identify, and hopefully predict, or prevent the ECO anomaly.[29]

ECO sensor troubleshooting and recovery

Engineers working on the Time-domain reflectometry equipment inside the MLP.

After the second failed launch attempt, NASA initiated a search for the root cause of the ECO sensor problem. In order to gather more data they scheduled a tanking test for December 18. Engineers installed test wiring that was leading from the tail mast of the orbiter into the interior of the Mobile Launcher Platform (MLP), where Time-domain reflectometry (TDR) test equipment was installed to test the ECO sensor system. By gathering data about the characteristics of the behaviour of the sensor both before during and after tanking, NASA was able to pinpoint the problem to the LH2 external tank feed-through connector.


Planned mission timeline

Information taken from the STS-122 Press Kit, and may change as the mission progresses.[30]
Launch day
Launch ♦ Payload bay door opening ♦ Ku band antenna deployment ♦ Shuttle robotic arm activation and checkout ♦ Video downlink of external tank (ET) during launch, and handheld video of ET separation.
Flight day 2
Thermal Protection System (TPS) survey with the Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) ♦ Extravehicular Mobility Unit checkout ♦ Centerline camera installation ♦ Orbiter Docking System Ring extension ♦ Orbital Maneuvering System survey ♦ Rendezvous tools checkout.
Flight day 3
Rendezvous with the ISS ♦ Rendezvous pitch maneuver ♦ Docking to the Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 on the Harmony module ♦ Hatch opening, welcome ceremony, safety briefing ♦ OBSS unberthing by Canadarm2 ♦ Extra-vehicular activity (EVA) procedure review ♦ EVA-1 campout by Walheim and Schlegel.
Flight day 4
Soyuz seat liner swap and crew exchange between Tani and Eyharts ♦ Shuttle's Ku band antenna stowage (temporary for unberthing of Columbus ♦ EVA-1 by Walheim and Schlegel (Columbus grapple fixture installation, P1 truss nitrogen (N2) tank assembly preparation, power and data grapple fixture removal and installation to Columbus.) ♦ Columbus grapple, unberth, and installation on starboard side of Harmony
Flight day 5
TPS Focused inspection (if required) ♦ Shuttle Ku band antenna re-deployment ♦ Columbus ingress preparation ♦ Columbus ingress ♦ EVA-2 procedure review ♦ EVA-2 campout by Walheim and Schlegel.
Flight day 6
EVA-2 by Walheim and Schlegel (P1 Truss N2 tank assembly installation, stowage of old N2 tank assembly into payload bay.) ♦ Columbus outfitting.
Flight day 7
Columbus racks and systems outfitting ♦ Crew off-duty period ♦ EVA-3 preparation review ♦ EVA3 campout by Walheim and Love.
Flight day 8
EVA-3 by Walheim and Love (Installation of SOLAR telescope, and EuTEF facility onto an External Stowage Platform (ESP) on Columbus, retrieval of failed Control Moment Gyroscope (CMG) that was replaced on STS-118 and stowed on ESP2, installation of failed CMG into payload bay, installation of keel pin cloth covers on Columbus.)
Flight day 9
Shuttle and station transfers ♦ Joint crew news conference ♦ ISS reboost ♦ Columbus outfitting continues ♦ Farewells and hatch closure.
Flight day 10
Undocking and flyaround ♦ Final separation from the ISS ♦ OBSS unberth ♦ Late TPS inspection ♦ OBSS final berthing.
Flight day 11
Cabin stowage ♦ Flight Control System (FCS) checkout ♦ Reaction Control System (RCS) hot-fire test ♦ Crew deorbit briefing ♦ Launch and entry suit checkout ♦ Recumbent seat set-up for Tani ♦ Ku band antenna stowage.
Flight day 12
Deorbit preparations ♦ Payload bay door closure ♦ Deorbit burn ♦ Landing at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility.

Contingency mission

STS-323 is the designation given to the Contingency Shuttle Crew Support mission which would be launched in the event Space Shuttle Atlantis becomes disabled during STS-122. It would be a modified version of the STS-123 mission, which would involve the launch date being brought forward. The crew for this mission would be a four-person subset of the full STS-123 crew.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "NASA Announces Space Shuttle Launch Targets". NASA. January 11, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d William Harwood (2007). "STS-122 Quick Look Data". CBS News. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ NASA (2007). "Consolidated Launch Manifest". NASA. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b c Chris Bergin (2007). "STS-122 launch attempt scrubbed - ET sensor issue". NASA Spaceflight.com. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Chris Bergin (2007). "PRCB debates STS-122 options - includes rollback and tank swap". NASA Spaceflight.com. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Chris Bergin (January 13, 2008). "STS-122: Engineers install ET-125's modified connector". NASA Spaceflight.com. Retrieved 2008-01-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ NASA (2006). "NASA Assigns Crew for Columbus Shuttle Mission". NASA. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ NASA (2007). "NASA Announces Three International Space Station Crews". NASA. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ NASA (2007). "Space Shuttle Mission STS-122: The Voyage of Columbus". NASA. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ William Harwood for CBS News (2007). "Spacewalkers to replace failed station component". Spaceflight Now. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Chris Bergin (2007). "STS-122 spacewalkers gain extra protection". NASA SpaceFlight.com. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ Robert Pearlman (2007). "NASA to launch NASCAR Daytona flags". collectSPACE. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ William Harwood (2007). "STS-122 Quick Look Data 2". CBS News. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ Chris Bergin (2007). "EVA-4 success with array repair". NASASpaceflight.com. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Chris Bergin (2007). "Atlantis arrives at Pad 39A ahead of STS-122". NASA Spaceflight.com. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ NASA (2007). "NASA's Space Shuttle Processing Status Report". NASA. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Chris Bergin (2007). "FRR approves December 6 launch date for STS-122". NASA Spaceflight.com. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ Tariq Malik (2007). "Shuttle Crew Arrives at NASA". Space.com. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ a b NASA (2007). "NASA Postpones Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch; Aims for Friday". NASA. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ Chris Bergin (2007). "STS-122 launch attempt scrubbed - ET sensor issue". NASA Spaceflight.com. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ William Harwood for CBS News (December 6, 2007). "Fuel sensor problem scrubs shuttle launch". spaceflightnow.com. Retrieved 2007-12-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ a b Chris Bergin (2007). "MMT begin to look at STS-122 flight rationale options". NASA Spaceflight.com. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ a b c Chris Bergin (2007). "MMT decide to try for a Sunday launch attempt for STS-122". NASA Spaceflight.com. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ Kate Tobin (2007). "Space shuttle launch delayed until Sunday". CNN. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ a b Marcia Dunn for the Associated Press (2007). "NASA Decides to Try for Sunday Launch". The Washington Post. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ a b c d William Harwood for CBS News (2007). "Shuttle Atlantis counting down to Sunday launch try". Spaceflight Now. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ Chris Bergin (2007). "ECO sensor issues strike again - STS-122 moves to January". NASA Spaceflight.com. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ NASA (2007). "NASA Targets Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch on Jan. 10". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ a b c William Harwood for CBS News (2007). "Atlantis launch delayed to January". Spaceflight Now. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ NASA (2007). "STS-122 Press Kit" (PDF). NASA. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
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