1 00:00:06,630 --> 00:00:04,870 good morning and happy halloween thank 2 00:00:08,310 --> 00:00:06,640 you for joining us here at nasa's 3 00:00:10,549 --> 00:00:08,320 kennedy space center in florida for the 4 00:00:13,830 --> 00:00:10,559 pre-countdown status briefing for space 5 00:00:16,390 --> 00:00:13,840 shuttle discovery's sts-133 launch 6 00:00:19,510 --> 00:00:16,400 joining me today is steve payne nasa 7 00:00:21,109 --> 00:00:19,520 test director good morning 8 00:00:24,230 --> 00:00:21,119 and kathy winters shuttle weather 9 00:00:27,910 --> 00:00:25,429 we'll hear from our panelists and then 10 00:00:29,589 --> 00:00:27,920 take questions steve thank you 11 00:00:31,669 --> 00:00:29,599 well i'm proud to be here today to bring 12 00:00:33,830 --> 00:00:31,679 your status on our upcoming countdown 13 00:00:36,069 --> 00:00:33,840 for the uh launch of discovery for on 14 00:00:37,430 --> 00:00:36,079 the sts-133 mission i'm here to 15 00:00:39,990 --> 00:00:37,440 represent the team that's been working 16 00:00:42,069 --> 00:00:40,000 so hard to get discovery ready to fly 17 00:00:43,910 --> 00:00:42,079 uh this is going to be discovery's 39th 18 00:00:45,350 --> 00:00:43,920 and final flight and it's going to be 19 00:00:47,190 --> 00:00:45,360 bringing the permanent multi-purpose 20 00:00:49,350 --> 00:00:47,200 module up to the space station 21 00:00:50,470 --> 00:00:49,360 as well as the express logistics carrier 22 00:00:52,790 --> 00:00:50,480 number four 23 00:00:54,790 --> 00:00:52,800 and the robonaut to the space station as 24 00:00:56,790 --> 00:00:54,800 well we expect a lot of interest on this 25 00:00:58,549 --> 00:00:56,800 one and we expect a very good turnout 26 00:01:00,549 --> 00:00:58,559 for launch countdown 27 00:01:02,150 --> 00:01:00,559 work is currently on schedule 28 00:01:04,149 --> 00:01:02,160 as we prepare discovery for launch on 29 00:01:05,990 --> 00:01:04,159 wednesday afternoon we completed early 30 00:01:08,070 --> 00:01:06,000 this morning our in our flight 31 00:01:09,429 --> 00:01:08,080 pressurization of our on-orbit 32 00:01:12,390 --> 00:01:09,439 control system tanks and the main 33 00:01:13,830 --> 00:01:12,400 propulsion tanks and all went well that 34 00:01:15,510 --> 00:01:13,840 is behind us now 35 00:01:17,109 --> 00:01:15,520 we resolved our remaining issues with 36 00:01:18,070 --> 00:01:17,119 our nitrogen quick disconnect poppet 37 00:01:19,590 --> 00:01:18,080 valve 38 00:01:21,109 --> 00:01:19,600 it turns out it was a ground support 39 00:01:22,630 --> 00:01:21,119 equipment valve upstream that was 40 00:01:25,350 --> 00:01:22,640 providing too much pressure and not 41 00:01:28,149 --> 00:01:25,360 allowing the poppet to close we isolated 42 00:01:29,749 --> 00:01:28,159 that with another valve upstream of that 43 00:01:32,069 --> 00:01:29,759 and we're able to close a puppet and the 44 00:01:33,749 --> 00:01:32,079 leak is now behind us so those issues 45 00:01:35,429 --> 00:01:33,759 that we were having are now resolved and 46 00:01:38,069 --> 00:01:35,439 we're pressing on for our call to 47 00:01:39,190 --> 00:01:38,079 stations at 13 30 this afternoon 48 00:01:40,789 --> 00:01:39,200 all right 49 00:01:43,190 --> 00:01:40,799 uh call the stations like i said at 13 50 00:01:44,789 --> 00:01:43,200 30 we'll begin the clock at 2 pm 51 00:01:46,710 --> 00:01:44,799 uh we'll get it right into final check 52 00:01:48,950 --> 00:01:46,720 on configuration of our avionics control 53 00:01:50,710 --> 00:01:48,960 systems uh we'll begin preparations for 54 00:01:53,270 --> 00:01:50,720 loading the fuel cell reactants that 55 00:01:55,109 --> 00:01:53,280 begins uh the preparations tonight 56 00:01:56,550 --> 00:01:55,119 we'll be clearing the pad at six o'clock 57 00:01:57,830 --> 00:01:56,560 saturday morning 58 00:01:59,590 --> 00:01:57,840 do our 59 00:02:02,069 --> 00:01:59,600 pyrotechnics checks and then go into 60 00:02:04,389 --> 00:02:02,079 reactant loading at 11 30. 61 00:02:05,990 --> 00:02:04,399 the pad should reopen at about 6 pm on 62 00:02:08,150 --> 00:02:06,000 monday evening 63 00:02:09,510 --> 00:02:08,160 and we'll begin offloading 180 pounds of 64 00:02:11,430 --> 00:02:09,520 liquid oxygen 65 00:02:13,270 --> 00:02:11,440 from our react intensity to get our 66 00:02:15,030 --> 00:02:13,280 appropriate flight load that adds about 67 00:02:16,309 --> 00:02:15,040 four hours to our countdown schedule 68 00:02:17,430 --> 00:02:16,319 this is why it's a little bit longer 69 00:02:18,869 --> 00:02:17,440 than typical 70 00:02:20,630 --> 00:02:18,879 a checkout of our orbiter and ground 71 00:02:22,710 --> 00:02:20,640 communications network is planned for 72 00:02:25,510 --> 00:02:22,720 tuesday afternoon starting at about 13 73 00:02:27,270 --> 00:02:25,520 30 or 1 30 p.m local as followed by 74 00:02:29,670 --> 00:02:27,280 final flight crew equipment stowe at 75 00:02:32,150 --> 00:02:29,680 three o'clock on tuesday afternoon 76 00:02:33,509 --> 00:02:32,160 by seven on tuesday evening 77 00:02:35,589 --> 00:02:33,519 the rotating service structure will be 78 00:02:37,589 --> 00:02:35,599 retracted and we'll begin our final crew 79 00:02:40,229 --> 00:02:37,599 module configuration for load 80 00:02:41,830 --> 00:02:40,239 uh just before midnight on tuesday we're 81 00:02:44,550 --> 00:02:41,840 looking at the countdown clock to resume 82 00:02:46,550 --> 00:02:44,560 its count at t minus 11 hours then we'll 83 00:02:48,070 --> 00:02:46,560 begin final loading preparations and 84 00:02:50,630 --> 00:02:48,080 begin clearing the pad just after one 85 00:02:53,830 --> 00:02:50,640 o'clock in the morning on wednesday 86 00:02:55,430 --> 00:02:53,840 earliest tanking time is at 6 27 a.m on 87 00:02:56,869 --> 00:02:55,440 wednesday morning we expect about three 88 00:02:58,470 --> 00:02:56,879 hours of tanking 89 00:03:00,630 --> 00:02:58,480 the flight crew should arrive at the pad 90 00:03:02,550 --> 00:03:00,640 just after noon on wednesday 91 00:03:04,309 --> 00:03:02,560 this is a space station mission 92 00:03:06,949 --> 00:03:04,319 obviously and it's a 10-minute duration 93 00:03:09,509 --> 00:03:06,959 window approximately and it opens at 3 94 00:03:10,710 --> 00:03:09,519 47 on wednesday the third 95 00:03:12,390 --> 00:03:10,720 we always target the middle of the 96 00:03:13,830 --> 00:03:12,400 window and there are some seconds 97 00:03:15,990 --> 00:03:13,840 adjustment for a day of launch 98 00:03:18,070 --> 00:03:16,000 parameters we have opportunities from 99 00:03:19,509 --> 00:03:18,080 the 3rd through the 7th of november so 100 00:03:21,830 --> 00:03:19,519 it gives us 5 days and we have our 101 00:03:24,070 --> 00:03:21,840 typical 4 attempts and 5 days scenario 102 00:03:26,789 --> 00:03:24,080 we can use if we need it 103 00:03:29,110 --> 00:03:26,799 we have on the 3rd of november we have 104 00:03:31,190 --> 00:03:29,120 both flight day 3 and flight day 4 105 00:03:32,550 --> 00:03:31,200 rendezvous opportunities so we can use 106 00:03:33,990 --> 00:03:32,560 either of those if we needed to that 107 00:03:35,190 --> 00:03:34,000 would add about three minutes to our 108 00:03:36,710 --> 00:03:35,200 launch window 109 00:03:38,470 --> 00:03:36,720 and we have that every other day 110 00:03:40,710 --> 00:03:38,480 starting today starting on the third and 111 00:03:43,670 --> 00:03:40,720 then every other day from there 112 00:03:44,789 --> 00:03:43,680 we have through the 7th to launch there 113 00:03:46,710 --> 00:03:44,799 are 114 00:03:48,949 --> 00:03:46,720 starting on the 8th of november we have 115 00:03:51,110 --> 00:03:48,959 a beta angle constraint which doesn't 116 00:03:53,270 --> 00:03:51,120 allow us to go dock to the station due 117 00:03:54,949 --> 00:03:53,280 to thermal constraints 118 00:03:56,550 --> 00:03:54,959 after that there are a number of other 119 00:03:58,070 --> 00:03:56,560 constraints there's a small window of 120 00:03:59,190 --> 00:03:58,080 opportunity early december should we 121 00:04:01,350 --> 00:03:59,200 need that 122 00:04:03,910 --> 00:04:01,360 our pad hold time is 123 00:04:05,910 --> 00:04:03,920 plenty adequate we have uh seven days of 124 00:04:07,830 --> 00:04:05,920 liquid oxygen whole time eight of liquid 125 00:04:09,190 --> 00:04:07,840 hydrogen that's outside of our launch 126 00:04:11,750 --> 00:04:09,200 window so we don't have to worry about 127 00:04:14,470 --> 00:04:11,760 doing any top off or reaction uh 128 00:04:16,229 --> 00:04:14,480 reactant offload during the count 129 00:04:18,150 --> 00:04:16,239 it's an 11 day mission with one day 130 00:04:20,150 --> 00:04:18,160 contingency and two weather contingency 131 00:04:21,909 --> 00:04:20,160 days should we need them as well 132 00:04:24,950 --> 00:04:21,919 our end of mission is currently planned 133 00:04:26,230 --> 00:04:24,960 for 9 59 eastern on sunday november the 134 00:04:28,469 --> 00:04:26,240 14th 135 00:04:31,270 --> 00:04:28,479 and so far it's been a 136 00:04:32,950 --> 00:04:31,280 remarkable flow for discovery 137 00:04:35,590 --> 00:04:32,960 she's been an incredible vehicle and she 138 00:04:37,590 --> 00:04:35,600 caps along a distinguished career 139 00:04:38,950 --> 00:04:37,600 with this particular flight she's always 140 00:04:41,030 --> 00:04:38,960 amazed us with everything that she can 141 00:04:42,550 --> 00:04:41,040 do and we expect this flight should be 142 00:04:45,430 --> 00:04:42,560 no different and we're looking forward 143 00:04:46,390 --> 00:04:45,440 to launch on wednesday afternoon 144 00:04:47,590 --> 00:04:46,400 thank you 145 00:04:49,270 --> 00:04:47,600 kathy 146 00:04:50,710 --> 00:04:49,280 well we are going to be watching an 147 00:04:53,030 --> 00:04:50,720 upper level low over the next few days 148 00:04:55,350 --> 00:04:53,040 that will be dipping down into the area 149 00:04:57,030 --> 00:04:55,360 of western of the western gulf of mexico 150 00:04:58,390 --> 00:04:57,040 what that will do here for us on launch 151 00:05:00,629 --> 00:04:58,400 day is draw some moisture up from the 152 00:05:02,070 --> 00:05:00,639 south and as that occurs we'll just be a 153 00:05:04,469 --> 00:05:02,080 little bit concerned about low cloud 154 00:05:06,070 --> 00:05:04,479 ceilings and also having some showers 155 00:05:08,230 --> 00:05:06,080 within 20 nautical miles of the shuttle 156 00:05:10,710 --> 00:05:08,240 landing facility so with that we do have 157 00:05:13,590 --> 00:05:10,720 a 30 chance of ksc weather prohibiting 158 00:05:14,629 --> 00:05:13,600 launch now if we happen to delay a day 159 00:05:16,230 --> 00:05:14,639 the weather becomes much more 160 00:05:17,830 --> 00:05:16,240 problematic it looks like that frontal 161 00:05:20,230 --> 00:05:17,840 boundary is going to be pushing down 162 00:05:21,830 --> 00:05:20,240 into the area of central florida causing 163 00:05:23,510 --> 00:05:21,840 more concerns for showers and even 164 00:05:25,909 --> 00:05:23,520 possibly a thunderstorm 165 00:05:27,430 --> 00:05:25,919 in the central florida area so with that 166 00:05:29,749 --> 00:05:27,440 we did increase the probability if we 167 00:05:33,430 --> 00:05:29,759 happen to delay 24 hours up to a 40 168 00:05:35,430 --> 00:05:33,440 chance for um for thursday so right now 169 00:05:37,909 --> 00:05:35,440 though looking like just 30 chance on 170 00:05:39,189 --> 00:05:37,919 launch day of violating constraints 171 00:05:41,510 --> 00:05:39,199 let's go ahead and look at the satellite 172 00:05:43,029 --> 00:05:41,520 picture we do have hurricane tomas we're 173 00:05:43,990 --> 00:05:43,039 keeping an eye out for it's moved 174 00:05:46,550 --> 00:05:44,000 through 175 00:05:47,830 --> 00:05:46,560 the the lesser antilles and is now 176 00:05:49,909 --> 00:05:47,840 moving into the cr 177 00:05:50,950 --> 00:05:49,919 the caribbean and it's a category two 178 00:05:53,110 --> 00:05:50,960 hurricane 179 00:05:55,830 --> 00:05:53,120 it's forecast to by launch day be south 180 00:05:57,350 --> 00:05:55,840 of hispaniola and still be category 2 at 181 00:05:59,029 --> 00:05:57,360 that time the hurricane center is 182 00:06:00,230 --> 00:05:59,039 expecting that the storm will just 183 00:06:02,390 --> 00:06:00,240 continue to march towards the west 184 00:06:04,550 --> 00:06:02,400 northwest now at the end of that time 185 00:06:07,029 --> 00:06:04,560 period the models tend to want to pull 186 00:06:08,230 --> 00:06:07,039 the storm a little more northeast but as 187 00:06:10,070 --> 00:06:08,240 that front moves through that i was 188 00:06:11,430 --> 00:06:10,080 talking about for thursday 189 00:06:13,270 --> 00:06:11,440 as it pushes in 190 00:06:15,909 --> 00:06:13,280 to that area it'll draw that storm 191 00:06:17,270 --> 00:06:15,919 northeast likely 192 00:06:18,629 --> 00:06:17,280 the furthest east i think it would come 193 00:06:20,230 --> 00:06:18,639 at least right now so far the way it 194 00:06:21,830 --> 00:06:20,240 looks would be the the southeastern 195 00:06:23,749 --> 00:06:21,840 portion of the bahamas 196 00:06:25,670 --> 00:06:23,759 moving northeast so it doesn't look like 197 00:06:26,950 --> 00:06:25,680 it would be a direct threat to florida 198 00:06:28,870 --> 00:06:26,960 we'll watch it to see if it's going to 199 00:06:29,830 --> 00:06:28,880 increase the seas for the srb recovery 200 00:06:31,749 --> 00:06:29,840 area 201 00:06:33,110 --> 00:06:31,759 at the end of the week i'm actually just 202 00:06:35,110 --> 00:06:33,120 more concerned that the winds behind the 203 00:06:37,189 --> 00:06:35,120 boundary will do that for friday as 204 00:06:38,629 --> 00:06:37,199 they're returning so overall right now 205 00:06:41,110 --> 00:06:38,639 it doesn't look like that storm is going 206 00:06:43,749 --> 00:06:41,120 to threaten our launch date or be an 207 00:06:45,909 --> 00:06:43,759 issue for florida at least right now but 208 00:06:47,510 --> 00:06:45,919 we do continue to monitor these because 209 00:06:49,350 --> 00:06:47,520 we know how unpredictable sometimes they 210 00:06:51,029 --> 00:06:49,360 can be five to seven days out on the 211 00:06:52,469 --> 00:06:51,039 forecast 212 00:06:54,550 --> 00:06:52,479 so let me go and show you the hurricane 213 00:06:55,830 --> 00:06:54,560 center's forecast for tomas you can see 214 00:06:58,070 --> 00:06:55,840 that track that i was talking about 215 00:06:58,870 --> 00:06:58,080 bringing the storm into the area south 216 00:07:00,230 --> 00:06:58,880 of 217 00:07:01,909 --> 00:07:00,240 hispaniola 218 00:07:03,670 --> 00:07:01,919 and making a slight turn to the north at 219 00:07:05,189 --> 00:07:03,680 the end there and again at that point 220 00:07:06,950 --> 00:07:05,199 the models most of them have the 221 00:07:08,230 --> 00:07:06,960 influence of that trough affecting the 222 00:07:10,390 --> 00:07:08,240 storm pulling it northeast it would 223 00:07:12,469 --> 00:07:10,400 likely be under a lot of sheer as it 224 00:07:14,629 --> 00:07:12,479 gets under the influence of the trough 225 00:07:16,150 --> 00:07:14,639 as well so it would likely become extra 226 00:07:17,189 --> 00:07:16,160 tropical as it moves off into the 227 00:07:20,230 --> 00:07:17,199 atlantic 228 00:07:21,909 --> 00:07:20,240 in the long range forecast 229 00:07:23,670 --> 00:07:21,919 let's go ahead and get into our forecast 230 00:07:25,510 --> 00:07:23,680 for launch our tanking forecast still 231 00:07:27,110 --> 00:07:25,520 looks good we do just have some 232 00:07:29,430 --> 00:07:27,120 scattered skies in the low levels with 233 00:07:30,390 --> 00:07:29,440 the high ceiling in the area we expect 234 00:07:32,550 --> 00:07:30,400 to see 235 00:07:34,790 --> 00:07:32,560 winds from the east northeast 10 peaking 236 00:07:36,710 --> 00:07:34,800 to 15 knots and temperatures right 237 00:07:38,469 --> 00:07:36,720 around 74 degrees good weather overall 238 00:07:40,070 --> 00:07:38,479 for tanking just went with a slight 239 00:07:42,150 --> 00:07:40,080 chance of violating constrained at five 240 00:07:43,589 --> 00:07:42,160 percent in case the front happens to 241 00:07:45,510 --> 00:07:43,599 move along a little bit more quickly 242 00:07:47,909 --> 00:07:45,520 than expected 243 00:07:49,270 --> 00:07:47,919 for our launch forecast overall the sky 244 00:07:50,869 --> 00:07:49,280 conditions look good in the low levels 245 00:07:53,749 --> 00:07:50,879 we do have expected ceiling on and off 246 00:07:55,909 --> 00:07:53,759 around the 9000 foot area winds will be 247 00:07:57,589 --> 00:07:55,919 from the east 11 peaking to 17 knots the 248 00:07:59,350 --> 00:07:57,599 models have toggled around quite a bit 249 00:08:01,029 --> 00:07:59,360 on the wind direction and so we're 250 00:08:02,469 --> 00:08:01,039 keeping an eye on that but right now so 251 00:08:04,150 --> 00:08:02,479 far it's within constraints and there's 252 00:08:05,350 --> 00:08:04,160 a chance of showers 253 00:08:07,510 --> 00:08:05,360 in the area 254 00:08:10,070 --> 00:08:07,520 overall a 30 percent chance of ksc 255 00:08:12,150 --> 00:08:10,080 weather prohibiting launch 256 00:08:13,749 --> 00:08:12,160 srb recovery looks good overall with 257 00:08:16,070 --> 00:08:13,759 seas just a little bit high at five to 258 00:08:18,629 --> 00:08:16,080 six feet in that area winds from the 259 00:08:20,230 --> 00:08:18,639 east 12 to 17 knots 260 00:08:21,749 --> 00:08:20,240 again i'm more concerned for them as we 261 00:08:22,869 --> 00:08:21,759 get into friday and that front moves 262 00:08:24,309 --> 00:08:22,879 through and the winds will pick up and 263 00:08:25,670 --> 00:08:24,319 that could increase the seas in that 264 00:08:26,390 --> 00:08:25,680 area and we'll be briefing them tomorrow 265 00:08:29,270 --> 00:08:26,400 morning 266 00:08:30,790 --> 00:08:29,280 for srb recovery 267 00:08:32,550 --> 00:08:30,800 for spaceflight meteorology groups 268 00:08:34,070 --> 00:08:32,560 forecast for the abort landing sites in 269 00:08:37,029 --> 00:08:34,080 the u.s the weather does look good both 270 00:08:38,630 --> 00:08:37,039 at edwards and at northrop field 271 00:08:41,190 --> 00:08:38,640 and for the towel sites we do have three 272 00:08:44,710 --> 00:08:41,200 good tile sites on the first day with no 273 00:08:47,910 --> 00:08:46,389 if we do happen to delay 24 hours this 274 00:08:49,829 --> 00:08:47,920 is a day that we think we'd be mostly 275 00:08:51,829 --> 00:08:49,839 influenced by the front coming into the 276 00:08:53,590 --> 00:08:51,839 area we do have a chance for showers on 277 00:08:55,190 --> 00:08:53,600 this day also thunderstorms could be in 278 00:08:56,710 --> 00:08:55,200 the area mainly over in the gulf but 279 00:08:58,070 --> 00:08:56,720 anvils could stream in for those 280 00:08:59,670 --> 00:08:58,080 thunderstorms 281 00:09:01,430 --> 00:08:59,680 the tops of the high clouds that come 282 00:09:03,430 --> 00:09:01,440 off the top those can be a triggered 283 00:09:05,590 --> 00:09:03,440 lightning threat with that we have a 40 284 00:09:08,230 --> 00:09:05,600 percent chance of ksc weather 285 00:09:09,990 --> 00:09:08,240 prohibiting launch 286 00:09:11,990 --> 00:09:10,000 the abort landing sites in the us remain 287 00:09:13,590 --> 00:09:12,000 good on day two 288 00:09:15,750 --> 00:09:13,600 and spaceflight meteorology group only 289 00:09:17,350 --> 00:09:15,760 has a slight concern at zaragoza which 290 00:09:20,150 --> 00:09:17,360 have visibility come down to four miles 291 00:09:24,630 --> 00:09:22,470 if we do happen to delay 48 hours so the 292 00:09:25,829 --> 00:09:24,640 front should move through florida again 293 00:09:27,750 --> 00:09:25,839 this is the same front that would be 294 00:09:28,630 --> 00:09:27,760 pulling tomas off to the northeast if 295 00:09:29,910 --> 00:09:28,640 this 296 00:09:31,430 --> 00:09:29,920 if tomas was 297 00:09:33,509 --> 00:09:31,440 in that location down in the caribbean 298 00:09:35,350 --> 00:09:33,519 that the hurricane center is forecasting 299 00:09:37,190 --> 00:09:35,360 and at this point we'd mainly be 300 00:09:39,030 --> 00:09:37,200 concerned about low cloud ceilings in 301 00:09:41,269 --> 00:09:39,040 the area and also winds are getting a 302 00:09:43,030 --> 00:09:41,279 bit strong and if they turn from three 303 00:09:45,110 --> 00:09:43,040 pfizer they're about the the ground wind 304 00:09:47,590 --> 00:09:45,120 constraint is 27 knots but it starts to 305 00:09:48,949 --> 00:09:47,600 drop as we turn more northerly so from 306 00:09:51,269 --> 00:09:48,959 if it came straight from the north it 307 00:09:53,190 --> 00:09:51,279 would be down to 23 knots forecasting 308 00:09:54,790 --> 00:09:53,200 right now a peak went to 21 not so i did 309 00:09:57,110 --> 00:09:54,800 increase the probability on this day to 310 00:09:59,350 --> 00:09:57,120 a 30 percent chance of ksc weather 311 00:10:01,190 --> 00:09:59,360 prohibiting launch 312 00:10:03,910 --> 00:10:01,200 the abort landing sites again in the u.s 313 00:10:06,069 --> 00:10:03,920 still look good on on the third day and 314 00:10:07,750 --> 00:10:06,079 we have similar concerns at the towel at 315 00:10:09,990 --> 00:10:07,760 zaragoza one of the towel sites just a 316 00:10:11,670 --> 00:10:10,000 chance for four miles of fog but overall 317 00:10:13,750 --> 00:10:11,680 two other good towel sizes both at 318 00:10:15,350 --> 00:10:13,760 and nistris 319 00:10:16,389 --> 00:10:15,360 so we'll keep an eye on tomas but right 320 00:10:18,790 --> 00:10:16,399 now it doesn't look like it'll be a 321 00:10:19,990 --> 00:10:18,800 factor for launch and our main concern 322 00:10:21,990 --> 00:10:20,000 will just be if we happen to delay so 323 00:10:24,230 --> 00:10:22,000 right now launch day we have a 30 chance 324 00:10:25,750 --> 00:10:24,240 of kc weather prohibiting launch if we 325 00:10:26,870 --> 00:10:25,760 happen to delay 24 hours that's when a 326 00:10:28,630 --> 00:10:26,880 front will come into the area and we 327 00:10:30,550 --> 00:10:28,640 have more concerns and we'll keep 328 00:10:31,910 --> 00:10:30,560 watching that trend if it looks like the 329 00:10:33,350 --> 00:10:31,920 models are going to keep timing it out 330 00:10:36,150 --> 00:10:33,360 that way we may have to increase that 331 00:10:37,350 --> 00:10:36,160 24-hour delay number if if they come in 332 00:10:38,870 --> 00:10:37,360 line better right now there's some 333 00:10:41,110 --> 00:10:38,880 differences on the timing of that so 334 00:10:44,949 --> 00:10:41,120 we're just keeping it at 40 for day two 335 00:10:46,389 --> 00:10:44,959 but day one still looking good 336 00:10:47,750 --> 00:10:46,399 thank you well i'll take questions when 337 00:10:49,509 --> 00:10:47,760 the microphone comes your way please 338 00:10:50,630 --> 00:10:49,519 state your name affiliation and to whom 339 00:10:52,310 --> 00:10:50,640 you're addressing your question we'll 340 00:10:55,190 --> 00:10:52,320 start with bill 341 00:10:56,710 --> 00:10:55,200 hi bill harwood cbs news for steve uh 342 00:10:57,990 --> 00:10:56,720 would you um 343 00:10:59,190 --> 00:10:58,000 what did what did the troubleshooting 344 00:11:00,630 --> 00:10:59,200 show where the problem was i was 345 00:11:02,790 --> 00:11:00,640 confused was that both nitrogen and 346 00:11:04,870 --> 00:11:02,800 helium or just helium well initially 347 00:11:06,310 --> 00:11:04,880 we'd had two different issues with uh 348 00:11:07,750 --> 00:11:06,320 with our quick disconnects one with a 349 00:11:09,829 --> 00:11:07,760 with a nitrogen side and one with a 350 00:11:11,269 --> 00:11:09,839 helium side 351 00:11:12,790 --> 00:11:11,279 the one that was a long pole the one 352 00:11:14,150 --> 00:11:12,800 that took us a long time to resolve was 353 00:11:16,150 --> 00:11:14,160 the one on the helium side because it 354 00:11:18,150 --> 00:11:16,160 required venting down our tanks 355 00:11:19,110 --> 00:11:18,160 and repressurizing and that just takes a 356 00:11:20,710 --> 00:11:19,120 long time because you have to do it 357 00:11:21,829 --> 00:11:20,720 slowly to allow the thermal conditioning 358 00:11:22,949 --> 00:11:21,839 to happen 359 00:11:24,949 --> 00:11:22,959 for the 360 00:11:26,630 --> 00:11:24,959 nitrogen tank it's fairly 361 00:11:28,310 --> 00:11:26,640 straightforward it's a quick process the 362 00:11:30,230 --> 00:11:28,320 size is about the tank is about the size 363 00:11:32,550 --> 00:11:30,240 of a softball so it takes a couple of 364 00:11:33,910 --> 00:11:32,560 minutes to fill and empty 365 00:11:35,269 --> 00:11:33,920 we thought it was a quick disconnect 366 00:11:36,870 --> 00:11:35,279 valve and it's 367 00:11:38,389 --> 00:11:36,880 i believe you saw one of these earlier 368 00:11:39,750 --> 00:11:38,399 it's the same kind of quick disconnect 369 00:11:41,509 --> 00:11:39,760 valve 370 00:11:43,829 --> 00:11:41,519 there's a little poppet inside that's 371 00:11:45,110 --> 00:11:43,839 held open by pressure 372 00:11:46,310 --> 00:11:45,120 and when the pressure goes down it 373 00:11:47,910 --> 00:11:46,320 closes again 374 00:11:50,389 --> 00:11:47,920 the valve that was supposed to stop 375 00:11:51,990 --> 00:11:50,399 supplying pressure to it was 376 00:11:53,670 --> 00:11:52,000 providing too much and it couldn't close 377 00:11:55,910 --> 00:11:53,680 properly so we just went upstream and 378 00:11:57,269 --> 00:11:55,920 closed closed the gas off to that one so 379 00:12:00,230 --> 00:11:57,279 that the pressure would bleed down and 380 00:12:01,509 --> 00:12:00,240 the qd could close and it worked 381 00:12:03,190 --> 00:12:01,519 very well 382 00:12:04,470 --> 00:12:03,200 well i guess what i was asking was are 383 00:12:05,829 --> 00:12:04,480 you saying that there really wasn't 384 00:12:07,190 --> 00:12:05,839 anything wrong with the shuttle hardware 385 00:12:08,710 --> 00:12:07,200 it was an issue on the ground side that 386 00:12:10,389 --> 00:12:08,720 you guys just didn't see well once you 387 00:12:12,389 --> 00:12:10,399 pull it out it's hard to to go back and 388 00:12:14,629 --> 00:12:12,399 and determine that we changed it it 389 00:12:16,629 --> 00:12:14,639 turns out it could have been both or it 390 00:12:18,389 --> 00:12:16,639 could have been just one at this point 391 00:12:20,470 --> 00:12:18,399 we don't know once we take it out 392 00:12:21,910 --> 00:12:20,480 but uh the valve we had originally been 393 00:12:23,750 --> 00:12:21,920 there since the initial build of the 394 00:12:25,829 --> 00:12:23,760 vehicle and we've never had any issues 395 00:12:27,190 --> 00:12:25,839 with it 396 00:12:28,470 --> 00:12:27,200 and that was 397 00:12:31,269 --> 00:12:28,480 back in the 398 00:12:33,110 --> 00:12:31,279 early 80s i believe so 399 00:12:34,230 --> 00:12:33,120 okay so so now everything's buttoned up 400 00:12:35,590 --> 00:12:34,240 and you guys are pretty confident 401 00:12:37,269 --> 00:12:35,600 everything else comes up you'll get 402 00:12:38,949 --> 00:12:37,279 there correct and we're going to spend 403 00:12:40,310 --> 00:12:38,959 the rest of the rest of the afternoon 404 00:12:41,509 --> 00:12:40,320 putting the area back together 405 00:12:43,590 --> 00:12:41,519 disconnecting all the ground support 406 00:12:47,269 --> 00:12:43,600 equipment and putting the doors back on 407 00:12:48,949 --> 00:12:47,279 so that is behind us fortunately 408 00:12:53,829 --> 00:12:48,959 are there any other questions 409 00:12:58,790 --> 00:12:56,949 um denise ciao for space.com um just a 410 00:13:00,389 --> 00:12:58,800 quick question to clarify for steve um 411 00:13:02,470 --> 00:13:00,399 the repressurization has that been 412 00:13:03,350 --> 00:13:02,480 completed or is that ongoing today 413 00:13:07,910 --> 00:13:03,360 of the 414 00:13:09,190 --> 00:13:07,920 the repressurizations are complete at 415 00:13:10,629 --> 00:13:09,200 this point the helium tanks were 416 00:13:11,670 --> 00:13:10,639 repressurized and they were done early 417 00:13:13,350 --> 00:13:11,680 this morning 418 00:13:15,750 --> 00:13:13,360 uh the nitrogen tank would be 419 00:13:17,990 --> 00:13:15,760 pressurized as i was getting out here 420 00:13:21,990 --> 00:13:18,000 and the pressure was holding fine so 421 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:25,670 okay are there any further questions 422 00:13:25,680 --> 00:13:32,150 okay um bill again 423 00:13:36,550 --> 00:13:33,750 since i promised cathy a question 424 00:13:38,069 --> 00:13:36,560 yesterday no i'm kidding uh what is smg 425 00:13:39,910 --> 00:13:38,079 saying i mean you guys always look at 426 00:13:42,389 --> 00:13:39,920 launch weather and i know that you you 427 00:13:43,990 --> 00:13:42,399 fold some of what smg says but but i 428 00:13:45,430 --> 00:13:44,000 know they're listing constraints for all 429 00:13:47,430 --> 00:13:45,440 of those days in terms of chance of 430 00:13:48,710 --> 00:13:47,440 showers and all that how confident are 431 00:13:50,069 --> 00:13:48,720 they i guess is what it means well we 432 00:13:51,430 --> 00:13:50,079 actually coordinate our forecasts and 433 00:13:53,829 --> 00:13:51,440 that probability does cover their 434 00:13:55,590 --> 00:13:53,839 constraints so we talk every morning um 435 00:13:57,269 --> 00:13:55,600 to make sure that our forecasts are all 436 00:13:58,550 --> 00:13:57,279 lined up and 437 00:14:00,629 --> 00:13:58,560 the main reason why we're keeping the 438 00:14:02,870 --> 00:14:00,639 number at 40 for day two even though it 439 00:14:04,949 --> 00:14:02,880 lists a lot of violations is because the 440 00:14:07,269 --> 00:14:04,959 uncertainty that we have in the forecast 441 00:14:08,790 --> 00:14:07,279 and the trend the changing of the trend 442 00:14:10,790 --> 00:14:08,800 we just wanted to trend it up and now 443 00:14:12,629 --> 00:14:10,800 tomorrow if it continues to look as it 444 00:14:14,790 --> 00:14:12,639 looks on the models today with that 445 00:14:16,230 --> 00:14:14,800 front more solidly where it is 446 00:14:17,910 --> 00:14:16,240 consistently i should say more 447 00:14:19,590 --> 00:14:17,920 consistently then we're going to bump 448 00:14:21,829 --> 00:14:19,600 that number up again we considered it 449 00:14:24,069 --> 00:14:21,839 today for that day too 450 00:14:26,310 --> 00:14:24,079 but uh but we didn't quite do it and on 451 00:14:27,990 --> 00:14:26,320 the first day they listed a chance of a 452 00:14:30,389 --> 00:14:28,000 shower so that's why we have the number 453 00:14:32,230 --> 00:14:30,399 30 percent so we we do talk and 454 00:14:33,269 --> 00:14:32,240 coordinate all that and it's all into 455 00:14:34,629 --> 00:14:33,279 consideration 456 00:14:36,310 --> 00:14:34,639 they're as confident as you are that 457 00:14:37,829 --> 00:14:36,320 thankful yeah we've been talking each 458 00:14:39,110 --> 00:14:37,839 morning you're saying well hopefully 459 00:14:40,949 --> 00:14:39,120 hopefully one of these days the models 460 00:14:44,550 --> 00:14:40,959 will all line up and we expect that to 461 00:14:46,629 --> 00:14:44,560 happen as we get closer to launch day 462 00:14:48,310 --> 00:14:46,639 ken you had a question 463 00:14:50,069 --> 00:14:48,320 thank you ken cramer for space flight 464 00:14:52,230 --> 00:14:50,079 magazine uh for kathy is there any 465 00:14:54,710 --> 00:14:52,240 particular time of the day when these 466 00:14:56,949 --> 00:14:54,720 showers are more likely is the afternoon 467 00:14:59,509 --> 00:14:56,959 the most likely time we usually get an 468 00:15:01,030 --> 00:14:59,519 easterly type flow they're actually more 469 00:15:02,389 --> 00:15:01,040 likely in the morning but the moisture 470 00:15:05,509 --> 00:15:02,399 is increasing in this case in the 471 00:15:07,269 --> 00:15:05,519 afternoon too so so it's probably pretty 472 00:15:08,550 --> 00:15:07,279 even on how much chance we have the 473 00:15:09,829 --> 00:15:08,560 showers in the morning and showers in 474 00:15:12,470 --> 00:15:09,839 the afternoon so we have it listed on 475 00:15:14,230 --> 00:15:12,480 both the tanking and the launch forecast 476 00:15:15,670 --> 00:15:14,240 so usually morning time would be more 477 00:15:17,269 --> 00:15:15,680 and then as you get in the afternoon the 478 00:15:19,269 --> 00:15:17,279 sea breeze will actually squelch these a 479 00:15:20,710 --> 00:15:19,279 bit but in this case with that moisture 480 00:15:22,389 --> 00:15:20,720 infection there's still a chance for a 481 00:15:23,910 --> 00:15:22,399 shower now as we get in the overnight 482 00:15:25,110 --> 00:15:23,920 hours we would expect them to increase 483 00:15:27,030 --> 00:15:25,120 again 484 00:15:28,310 --> 00:15:27,040 the water gets warmer than that than the 485 00:15:29,670 --> 00:15:28,320 atmosphere and so you get a little more 486 00:15:31,030 --> 00:15:29,680 instability you get a better chance for 487 00:15:33,990 --> 00:15:31,040 showers in the overnight hours when you 488 00:15:36,310 --> 00:15:34,000 have an easterly flow pattern 489 00:15:38,310 --> 00:15:36,320 for steve you mentioned um that this 490 00:15:41,350 --> 00:15:38,320 valve had not been changed on discovery 491 00:15:43,189 --> 00:15:41,360 since it was built i'm curious about 492 00:15:44,550 --> 00:15:43,199 atlantis and endeavor what's the history 493 00:15:46,150 --> 00:15:44,560 there if you know 494 00:15:49,110 --> 00:15:46,160 that's a good question but i don't know 495 00:15:51,269 --> 00:15:50,470 ken we can look that up and get it for 496 00:15:52,949 --> 00:15:51,279 you 497 00:15:54,949 --> 00:15:52,959 okay 498 00:15:57,189 --> 00:15:54,959 if there are no further questions we'll 499 00:15:58,310 --> 00:15:57,199 conclude today's pre-countdown status 500 00:15:59,990 --> 00:15:58,320 briefing 501 00:16:02,470 --> 00:16:00,000 as a reminder the countdown begins this 502 00:16:04,949 --> 00:16:02,480 afternoon at 2pm eastern time that's not 503 00:16:06,310 --> 00:16:04,959 on nasa television the next nasa tv 504 00:16:07,829 --> 00:16:06,320 briefing will be tomorrow with the 505 00:16:10,230 --> 00:16:07,839 pre-launch news conference which is 506 00:16:11,269 --> 00:16:10,240 expected to begin no earlier than 11 a.m 507 00:16:13,829 --> 00:16:11,279 eastern