1 00:00:05,829 --> 00:00:04,150 good morning thank you for joining us 2 00:00:07,310 --> 00:00:05,839 here at nasa's kennedy space center in 3 00:00:10,070 --> 00:00:07,320 florida for the 4 00:00:11,749 --> 00:00:10,080 sts-133 pre-countdown status briefing 5 00:00:13,669 --> 00:00:11,759 for space shuttle discovery's mission to 6 00:00:15,910 --> 00:00:13,679 the international space station joining 7 00:00:17,029 --> 00:00:15,920 me today is jeff spalding nasa test 8 00:00:19,750 --> 00:00:17,039 director 9 00:00:24,390 --> 00:00:21,269 and kathy winters shuttle weather 10 00:00:28,550 --> 00:00:25,670 we'll hear from our panelists and take 11 00:00:30,390 --> 00:00:28,560 questions jeff thank you kendra and good 12 00:00:32,150 --> 00:00:30,400 morning to everyone and welcome 13 00:00:33,830 --> 00:00:32,160 i'm very proud to be back here today to 14 00:00:35,270 --> 00:00:33,840 provide launch countdown status it's 15 00:00:36,790 --> 00:00:35,280 been a couple of months obviously since 16 00:00:38,389 --> 00:00:36,800 the last time we did that 17 00:00:41,510 --> 00:00:38,399 um as we're preparing to get discovery 18 00:00:43,590 --> 00:00:41,520 ready to fly on the sts-133 mission 19 00:00:44,709 --> 00:00:43,600 this will be discovery's 39th and final 20 00:00:46,150 --> 00:00:44,719 flight 21 00:00:48,709 --> 00:00:46,160 and she is bringing the permanent 22 00:00:50,389 --> 00:00:48,719 multi-purpose module the pmm up to the 23 00:00:52,150 --> 00:00:50,399 station along with the express logistics 24 00:00:54,229 --> 00:00:52,160 carrier 25 00:00:55,990 --> 00:00:54,239 it's been an interesting and exciting 26 00:00:56,790 --> 00:00:56,000 and probably challenging few months for 27 00:00:59,430 --> 00:00:56,800 us 28 00:01:01,590 --> 00:00:59,440 over the last since uh we've been here 29 00:01:03,270 --> 00:01:01,600 last this will be the second longest 30 00:01:05,509 --> 00:01:03,280 vertical flow for the vehicle of 31 00:01:06,550 --> 00:01:05,519 discovery uh the vertical flow starts 32 00:01:09,030 --> 00:01:06,560 when we roll out of the orbital 33 00:01:12,789 --> 00:01:09,040 processing facility uh the longest one 34 00:01:14,550 --> 00:01:12,799 for us was sts-35 was 183 days and this 35 00:01:16,070 --> 00:01:14,560 one will be 170 36 00:01:17,590 --> 00:01:16,080 if we make our launch date on thursday 37 00:01:19,270 --> 00:01:17,600 the 24th which we're certainly planning 38 00:01:20,630 --> 00:01:19,280 on doing 39 00:01:21,830 --> 00:01:20,640 as you recall this 40 00:01:23,190 --> 00:01:21,840 vertical flow started for us on 41 00:01:24,950 --> 00:01:23,200 september the 9th when we did roll out 42 00:01:27,109 --> 00:01:24,960 of the processing facility 43 00:01:28,870 --> 00:01:27,119 uh and we spent some time in the vab 44 00:01:30,870 --> 00:01:28,880 rolled out on the 20th of september out 45 00:01:32,710 --> 00:01:30,880 to the launch pad for the first time 46 00:01:34,630 --> 00:01:32,720 flow was going very well we did have a 47 00:01:36,069 --> 00:01:34,640 leak as you recall on our ohms pod and 48 00:01:37,350 --> 00:01:36,079 we had to replace one of our flange 49 00:01:38,950 --> 00:01:37,360 seals that was one of the big topics we 50 00:01:40,469 --> 00:01:38,960 had before our first launch 51 00:01:43,510 --> 00:01:40,479 we did make the launch attempt on 52 00:01:45,270 --> 00:01:43,520 november the 5th and again as you all 53 00:01:47,749 --> 00:01:45,280 probably recall we did end up scrubbing 54 00:01:49,990 --> 00:01:47,759 for a leak on our hydrogen vent line 55 00:01:51,749 --> 00:01:50,000 and in addition we found some cracks and 56 00:01:53,350 --> 00:01:51,759 on the external tank foam 57 00:01:54,950 --> 00:01:53,360 those were associated after some further 58 00:01:56,630 --> 00:01:54,960 inspection with the stringer and we went 59 00:01:58,069 --> 00:01:56,640 ahead and repaired those 60 00:02:00,149 --> 00:01:58,079 at the launch pad and we targeted a new 61 00:02:01,990 --> 00:02:00,159 launch date of november the 30th 62 00:02:03,749 --> 00:02:02,000 at that point we did have some further 63 00:02:05,910 --> 00:02:03,759 discussions about how much evaluations 64 00:02:08,070 --> 00:02:05,920 we needed to do with the pad and decided 65 00:02:10,869 --> 00:02:08,080 to go ahead and do a tanking test and we 66 00:02:12,390 --> 00:02:10,879 did that test on december the 17th 67 00:02:13,990 --> 00:02:12,400 we added a lot of instrumentation to the 68 00:02:15,990 --> 00:02:14,000 tank to support that test to give us 69 00:02:17,990 --> 00:02:16,000 some more data so that we understood the 70 00:02:20,229 --> 00:02:18,000 nature of the crack and and what types 71 00:02:21,670 --> 00:02:20,239 of things might have caused that 72 00:02:23,110 --> 00:02:21,680 we also made the decision to roll back 73 00:02:24,949 --> 00:02:23,120 to the vehicle assembly building and did 74 00:02:25,910 --> 00:02:24,959 so on the 21st of december right before 75 00:02:27,430 --> 00:02:25,920 christmas 76 00:02:29,750 --> 00:02:27,440 so that we could complete all of the 77 00:02:31,350 --> 00:02:29,760 non-destructive evaluations of the tank 78 00:02:33,030 --> 00:02:31,360 because at the pad we only have access 79 00:02:34,150 --> 00:02:33,040 to a portion of the tank and by rolling 80 00:02:35,910 --> 00:02:34,160 back to the vehicle assembly building 81 00:02:37,750 --> 00:02:35,920 that gave us full access 360 degrees 82 00:02:39,270 --> 00:02:37,760 around the tank itself 83 00:02:41,190 --> 00:02:39,280 so those evaluations went well and we 84 00:02:43,750 --> 00:02:41,200 decided based on the data that we did of 85 00:02:45,589 --> 00:02:43,760 those evaluations to do a radius block 86 00:02:47,830 --> 00:02:45,599 mod on the stringers where we had seen 87 00:02:49,110 --> 00:02:47,840 some cracks uh to beef those up a little 88 00:02:50,790 --> 00:02:49,120 bit and give us some more structural 89 00:02:52,790 --> 00:02:50,800 integrity 90 00:02:53,910 --> 00:02:52,800 those mods went extremely well and we 91 00:02:56,390 --> 00:02:53,920 were able to roll back to the pad on 92 00:02:57,910 --> 00:02:56,400 january the 31st and since that time 93 00:03:00,149 --> 00:02:57,920 we've been working diligently to get the 94 00:03:01,910 --> 00:03:00,159 vehicle back into launch configuration 95 00:03:03,990 --> 00:03:01,920 changing out some of those time-based 96 00:03:05,750 --> 00:03:04,000 consumables like batteries and and some 97 00:03:07,270 --> 00:03:05,760 provisions and other things 98 00:03:08,869 --> 00:03:07,280 additionally we had replaced mission 99 00:03:11,030 --> 00:03:08,879 specialist uh 100 00:03:13,350 --> 00:03:11,040 tim kopra with steve bowen on this 101 00:03:15,030 --> 00:03:13,360 mission and steve will be performing all 102 00:03:17,030 --> 00:03:15,040 the duties that mr copper would have 103 00:03:18,309 --> 00:03:17,040 been doing and as a result that we also 104 00:03:21,670 --> 00:03:18,319 changed out the spacesuit since he's 105 00:03:24,309 --> 00:03:21,680 going to be doing our spacewalks as well 106 00:03:26,070 --> 00:03:24,319 so that got us to where we are today 107 00:03:28,470 --> 00:03:26,080 last night we did complete our flight 108 00:03:29,750 --> 00:03:28,480 pressurization of our on-orbit control 109 00:03:31,270 --> 00:03:29,760 system tanks as well as our main 110 00:03:34,550 --> 00:03:31,280 propulsion system tanks and that 111 00:03:36,789 --> 00:03:34,560 operation went very well just as planned 112 00:03:38,070 --> 00:03:36,799 i got the pad back open about 5 45 this 113 00:03:40,229 --> 00:03:38,080 morning since that time we've been 114 00:03:41,750 --> 00:03:40,239 working deconfiguring from that up and 115 00:03:43,830 --> 00:03:41,760 also getting ready to perform our launch 116 00:03:45,190 --> 00:03:43,840 countdown preparations and all of that 117 00:03:46,949 --> 00:03:45,200 will continue throughout the day as we 118 00:03:49,509 --> 00:03:46,959 get into called stations this afternoon 119 00:03:50,869 --> 00:03:49,519 at 2 30 for the launch countdown and 120 00:03:53,110 --> 00:03:50,879 then our countdown clock will begin 121 00:03:54,229 --> 00:03:53,120 counting at 3 o'clock from t minus 43 122 00:03:55,750 --> 00:03:54,239 hours 123 00:03:57,589 --> 00:03:55,760 at that point we'll get right into our 124 00:03:59,509 --> 00:03:57,599 final checkout and configuration of our 125 00:04:00,869 --> 00:03:59,519 onboard avionics systems 126 00:04:03,110 --> 00:04:00,879 and then we'll work preparations for 127 00:04:04,789 --> 00:04:03,120 fuel cell reactants later tonight 128 00:04:06,630 --> 00:04:04,799 at seven o'clock tomorrow morning we 129 00:04:08,789 --> 00:04:06,640 will clear the pad for the loading of 130 00:04:10,229 --> 00:04:08,799 those reactant operations and continue 131 00:04:12,710 --> 00:04:10,239 those preps until the actual loading 132 00:04:14,309 --> 00:04:12,720 which starts at 12 30 in the afternoon 133 00:04:16,469 --> 00:04:14,319 we expect the pad to open up about six 134 00:04:18,550 --> 00:04:16,479 tomorrow evening from that up and then 135 00:04:21,110 --> 00:04:18,560 we'll continue with about 120 pounds of 136 00:04:22,230 --> 00:04:21,120 liquid oxygen and we continue to offload 137 00:04:24,469 --> 00:04:22,240 of the vehicle to get us to our 138 00:04:26,390 --> 00:04:24,479 appropriate flight load and flight mass 139 00:04:28,629 --> 00:04:26,400 for that system which is about four more 140 00:04:29,990 --> 00:04:28,639 hours of work to do there we will 141 00:04:31,590 --> 00:04:30,000 proceed with our checkout of our order 142 00:04:33,189 --> 00:04:31,600 and ground communication systems and all 143 00:04:35,430 --> 00:04:33,199 of the networks associated with those on 144 00:04:37,030 --> 00:04:35,440 wednesday afternoon at about 2 30 145 00:04:40,390 --> 00:04:37,040 followed then by our final flight crew 146 00:04:41,830 --> 00:04:40,400 equipment stowage operations at about 4. 147 00:04:43,110 --> 00:04:41,840 on wednesday evening the rotating 148 00:04:44,629 --> 00:04:43,120 service structure will be pulled back 149 00:04:46,629 --> 00:04:44,639 away from the vehicle and the xenon 150 00:04:48,790 --> 00:04:46,639 lights will be turned on uh revealing 151 00:04:50,230 --> 00:04:48,800 the vehicle in its launch form uh for 152 00:04:51,590 --> 00:04:50,240 the last time and that will be about 153 00:04:53,189 --> 00:04:51,600 eight o'clock on wednesday evening when 154 00:04:54,710 --> 00:04:53,199 we do that 155 00:04:56,790 --> 00:04:54,720 then as we go just past midnight about 156 00:04:59,350 --> 00:04:56,800 12 30 or so our countdown clock will 157 00:05:01,029 --> 00:04:59,360 resume from t minus 11 hours 158 00:05:02,550 --> 00:05:01,039 and then at that point we'll begin our 159 00:05:04,790 --> 00:05:02,560 final loading preparations and begin 160 00:05:05,670 --> 00:05:04,800 clearing the pad about 2 am on thursday 161 00:05:08,070 --> 00:05:05,680 morning 162 00:05:09,909 --> 00:05:08,080 our earliest tanking time is at 7 25 163 00:05:11,510 --> 00:05:09,919 thursday morning takes about three hours 164 00:05:12,629 --> 00:05:11,520 as normal and then we'll bring the 165 00:05:14,469 --> 00:05:12,639 flight crew out once we get the crew 166 00:05:16,629 --> 00:05:14,479 module configured at about 1 30 on 167 00:05:18,790 --> 00:05:16,639 thursday afternoon 168 00:05:21,189 --> 00:05:18,800 our launch window is about 10 minutes or 169 00:05:23,590 --> 00:05:21,199 so in length opens at 4 45 on thursday 170 00:05:24,870 --> 00:05:23,600 the 24th we will target the middle of 171 00:05:27,670 --> 00:05:24,880 that window which correlates to about 172 00:05:29,670 --> 00:05:27,680 450 450 pm 173 00:05:31,110 --> 00:05:29,680 on friday february the 25th and then 174 00:05:33,350 --> 00:05:31,120 every day thereafter we do have some 175 00:05:35,350 --> 00:05:33,360 flight day 4 rendezvous capability from 176 00:05:36,710 --> 00:05:35,360 a launch window perspective which means 177 00:05:38,469 --> 00:05:36,720 they'll give us about three extra 178 00:05:40,150 --> 00:05:38,479 minutes or so on that 10-minute launch 179 00:05:42,230 --> 00:05:40,160 window for those days beginning on 180 00:05:43,830 --> 00:05:42,240 friday the 25th 181 00:05:45,990 --> 00:05:43,840 now we do have launch opportunities up 182 00:05:48,070 --> 00:05:46,000 through including march the 6th before 183 00:05:50,150 --> 00:05:48,080 we run into some station constraints on 184 00:05:52,070 --> 00:05:50,160 our dual dock operations because we have 185 00:05:53,830 --> 00:05:52,080 quite a few vehicles up there and and 186 00:05:55,830 --> 00:05:53,840 things will be moving around the soyuz 187 00:05:58,309 --> 00:05:55,840 and the htvs etc 188 00:05:59,909 --> 00:05:58,319 um we do um before we get upon that 189 00:06:01,590 --> 00:05:59,919 though we do have some range constraints 190 00:06:03,430 --> 00:06:01,600 that are out there there's an atlas 5 on 191 00:06:05,430 --> 00:06:03,440 the range on march the 4th 192 00:06:07,189 --> 00:06:05,440 and a delta 4 on the range on march the 193 00:06:09,430 --> 00:06:07,199 11th 194 00:06:10,790 --> 00:06:09,440 so what that says is right now we have 195 00:06:13,749 --> 00:06:10,800 from a planning perspective we'll have 196 00:06:15,590 --> 00:06:13,759 the february 24th through the 26th with 197 00:06:17,590 --> 00:06:15,600 no issues at all 198 00:06:19,029 --> 00:06:17,600 once we get to the 27th we actually come 199 00:06:21,350 --> 00:06:19,039 up against the delta even though that's 200 00:06:23,110 --> 00:06:21,360 later that constraint first because that 201 00:06:24,790 --> 00:06:23,120 will be our landing dates will start to 202 00:06:27,110 --> 00:06:24,800 impinge on the preparations needed to 203 00:06:28,870 --> 00:06:27,120 prepare that delta for launch and then 204 00:06:29,749 --> 00:06:28,880 as we if we end up going out a day or 205 00:06:31,510 --> 00:06:29,759 more 206 00:06:32,629 --> 00:06:31,520 beyond that then we would start 207 00:06:33,990 --> 00:06:32,639 potentially 208 00:06:35,189 --> 00:06:34,000 overlapping right on top of their launch 209 00:06:37,189 --> 00:06:35,199 date with landing 210 00:06:39,430 --> 00:06:37,199 so that constraint is out there as well 211 00:06:41,510 --> 00:06:39,440 as the ones uh for the atlas on the on 212 00:06:43,350 --> 00:06:41,520 the fourth so we'll be evaluating those 213 00:06:44,870 --> 00:06:43,360 but right now the 24th through 26th are 214 00:06:47,029 --> 00:06:44,880 very clear for us 215 00:06:48,629 --> 00:06:47,039 we have three row capability available 216 00:06:50,390 --> 00:06:48,639 if needed we do the evaluations that we 217 00:06:51,510 --> 00:06:50,400 normally do for that 218 00:06:52,710 --> 00:06:51,520 and we don't have any beta angle 219 00:06:55,110 --> 00:06:52,720 concerns at all all the way through 220 00:06:57,510 --> 00:06:55,120 february or march our pad hold time is 221 00:06:59,110 --> 00:06:57,520 eight days for liquid hydrogen nine for 222 00:07:00,309 --> 00:06:59,120 liquid oxygen so we have plenty of time 223 00:07:02,469 --> 00:07:00,319 there 224 00:07:04,629 --> 00:07:02,479 with that 120 pound offload though we do 225 00:07:06,629 --> 00:07:04,639 eliminate our 48 hour turn capability if 226 00:07:08,790 --> 00:07:06,639 we have to do a top off meaning if we do 227 00:07:11,029 --> 00:07:08,800 any top off ops it'll take at least 72 228 00:07:12,390 --> 00:07:11,039 hours to perform that 229 00:07:15,029 --> 00:07:12,400 it's an 11 day mission with one 230 00:07:17,189 --> 00:07:15,039 contingency day two weather days planned 231 00:07:19,029 --> 00:07:17,199 and mission landing is at ksc a little 232 00:07:20,950 --> 00:07:19,039 before one o'clock on monday march the 233 00:07:23,270 --> 00:07:20,960 7th and then the eighth would be the 234 00:07:25,510 --> 00:07:23,280 plus one day and that's around 11 30 or 235 00:07:27,670 --> 00:07:25,520 so in the morning on that day 236 00:07:29,909 --> 00:07:27,680 there is atv 2 docking if you recall 237 00:07:31,830 --> 00:07:29,919 that did launch a few days back that 238 00:07:33,510 --> 00:07:31,840 docking is planned for about five hours 239 00:07:34,790 --> 00:07:33,520 prior to our launch so it's pretty close 240 00:07:36,710 --> 00:07:34,800 to the time frame in which we're getting 241 00:07:38,309 --> 00:07:36,720 ready to get off the ground and we'll be 242 00:07:39,830 --> 00:07:38,319 watching that closely 243 00:07:41,589 --> 00:07:39,840 and if there are any issues with that 244 00:07:43,110 --> 00:07:41,599 docking then we'd the program would go 245 00:07:45,510 --> 00:07:43,120 off and assess 246 00:07:47,670 --> 00:07:45,520 any issues or impacts to launch 247 00:07:49,029 --> 00:07:47,680 at that time and if if needed we could 248 00:07:50,869 --> 00:07:49,039 hold at any point in the countdown from 249 00:07:52,390 --> 00:07:50,879 that point forward so 250 00:07:54,869 --> 00:07:52,400 we'll be ready to be prepared for any of 251 00:07:56,150 --> 00:07:54,879 those things if if needed 252 00:07:57,830 --> 00:07:56,160 so in summary 253 00:08:00,390 --> 00:07:57,840 discovery has been a really remarkable 254 00:08:01,990 --> 00:08:00,400 vehicle for us and for the program uh 255 00:08:04,230 --> 00:08:02,000 she still has a few more miles to go 256 00:08:06,150 --> 00:08:04,240 before she sleeps though uh she's taken 257 00:08:07,990 --> 00:08:06,160 us on many amazing journeys throughout 258 00:08:11,110 --> 00:08:08,000 the years and we expect this flight to 259 00:08:12,950 --> 00:08:11,120 be no different than any of those thanks 260 00:08:14,790 --> 00:08:12,960 thank you jeff kathy 261 00:08:16,309 --> 00:08:14,800 well um weather is looking very good 262 00:08:17,830 --> 00:08:16,319 we've had some great weather coming up 263 00:08:19,589 --> 00:08:17,840 to launch particularly when we look at 264 00:08:21,029 --> 00:08:19,599 temperatures cold temperatures often 265 00:08:23,189 --> 00:08:21,039 become a concern for us this time of 266 00:08:24,550 --> 00:08:23,199 year but we've had some really nice mild 267 00:08:26,469 --> 00:08:24,560 conditions with temperatures in the 268 00:08:28,309 --> 00:08:26,479 upper 50s for low temperatures at the 269 00:08:31,110 --> 00:08:28,319 pad or ranging between the upper 50s and 270 00:08:32,709 --> 00:08:31,120 low 60s so it's been really nice weather 271 00:08:34,709 --> 00:08:32,719 for pre-launch processing and that's 272 00:08:36,149 --> 00:08:34,719 going to continue so i think we do tend 273 00:08:37,829 --> 00:08:36,159 to get in the situation we're in now 274 00:08:39,350 --> 00:08:37,839 where we have a high pressure ridge 275 00:08:41,509 --> 00:08:39,360 that's offshore we have an upper level 276 00:08:43,509 --> 00:08:41,519 ridge that's over the gulf of mexico and 277 00:08:45,590 --> 00:08:43,519 over florida and what happens in that 278 00:08:47,509 --> 00:08:45,600 case is all the cold fronts tend to stay 279 00:08:49,269 --> 00:08:47,519 to the north of us and we may just get 280 00:08:50,150 --> 00:08:49,279 the tail end of the boundaries that come 281 00:08:51,910 --> 00:08:50,160 through 282 00:08:53,829 --> 00:08:51,920 when that occurs sometimes we get some 283 00:08:56,070 --> 00:08:53,839 fog in the morning hours and it also can 284 00:08:57,430 --> 00:08:56,080 cause some ceilings and so on launch day 285 00:08:59,030 --> 00:08:57,440 everything looks good right now if we do 286 00:09:00,949 --> 00:08:59,040 happen to delay a couple of days that 287 00:09:02,630 --> 00:09:00,959 that does become a concern we start 288 00:09:04,550 --> 00:09:02,640 having an increase in concern for for 289 00:09:06,550 --> 00:09:04,560 low clouds and ceilings but for now 290 00:09:07,750 --> 00:09:06,560 launch day is looking very good 291 00:09:09,110 --> 00:09:07,760 overall let's go ahead and look at the 292 00:09:10,389 --> 00:09:09,120 satellite picture we do have an upper 293 00:09:12,470 --> 00:09:10,399 level ridge that's built in over the 294 00:09:14,389 --> 00:09:12,480 gulf of mexico and florida and so what 295 00:09:15,990 --> 00:09:14,399 happens in that case is the fronts just 296 00:09:18,550 --> 00:09:16,000 don't quite make their way down all the 297 00:09:19,910 --> 00:09:18,560 way to us or if they do it's not really 298 00:09:21,910 --> 00:09:19,920 the the portion of the front that has 299 00:09:23,910 --> 00:09:21,920 all the weather so we tend to have just 300 00:09:26,150 --> 00:09:23,920 uh some clouds that roll in with the 301 00:09:27,670 --> 00:09:26,160 front and nothing real significant 302 00:09:28,949 --> 00:09:27,680 we're not expecting any fronts in the 303 00:09:30,949 --> 00:09:28,959 area until the end of the week until the 304 00:09:33,910 --> 00:09:30,959 day after launch so right now weather 305 00:09:35,670 --> 00:09:33,920 does look favorable for launch day 306 00:09:37,670 --> 00:09:35,680 as we go into our let's go ahead and 307 00:09:39,509 --> 00:09:37,680 look at our forecast for the tanking 308 00:09:40,630 --> 00:09:39,519 forecast the only concern is sometimes 309 00:09:42,470 --> 00:09:40,640 in the southeast flow we get some 310 00:09:44,870 --> 00:09:42,480 morning coastal showers it's not a 311 00:09:46,389 --> 00:09:44,880 constraint for tanking and so overall 312 00:09:48,550 --> 00:09:46,399 temperatures are nice and mild winds are 313 00:09:50,550 --> 00:09:48,560 from the east eight knots and then above 314 00:09:51,750 --> 00:09:50,560 the surface will be southeasterly so we 315 00:09:53,110 --> 00:09:51,760 get a little sometimes we get some 316 00:09:54,550 --> 00:09:53,120 convergent bands when that occurs and 317 00:09:55,350 --> 00:09:54,560 we'll get an isolated shower here or 318 00:09:59,190 --> 00:09:55,360 there 319 00:10:01,750 --> 00:09:59,200 tanking we're not expecting to violate 320 00:10:02,949 --> 00:10:01,760 any constraints for our launch forecast 321 00:10:04,230 --> 00:10:02,959 when we get those morning coastal 322 00:10:05,910 --> 00:10:04,240 showers they tend to die off in the 323 00:10:07,829 --> 00:10:05,920 afternoon as the air temperature warms 324 00:10:09,430 --> 00:10:07,839 up and and gets warmer than the sea 325 00:10:10,949 --> 00:10:09,440 temperatures so we're not expecting 326 00:10:12,230 --> 00:10:10,959 those to continue winds should be from 327 00:10:14,150 --> 00:10:12,240 the southeast a little bit breezy 328 00:10:17,110 --> 00:10:14,160 gusting to 20 knots but right up the 329 00:10:18,949 --> 00:10:17,120 runway at the for rtls and not violating 330 00:10:20,630 --> 00:10:18,959 any of our wind constraints with that 331 00:10:22,310 --> 00:10:20,640 the only concern would be is if we had a 332 00:10:25,110 --> 00:10:22,320 slight chance for a shower in the area 333 00:10:28,470 --> 00:10:25,120 or ceiling but overall just a 20 chance 334 00:10:30,630 --> 00:10:28,480 of ksc weather prohibiting launch 335 00:10:32,630 --> 00:10:30,640 for srb recovery it's just a little bit 336 00:10:34,069 --> 00:10:32,640 bumpy there but no 337 00:10:35,670 --> 00:10:34,079 no constraints will be violated winds 338 00:10:37,110 --> 00:10:35,680 will be from the southeast gusting to 18 339 00:10:39,670 --> 00:10:37,120 knots seas 340 00:10:42,790 --> 00:10:39,680 are going to be right around 69 degrees 341 00:10:46,310 --> 00:10:45,110 and for our conus our abort landing 342 00:10:48,710 --> 00:10:46,320 sites in the conus there are some 343 00:10:50,790 --> 00:10:48,720 concerns particularly with wind 344 00:10:52,310 --> 00:10:50,800 for edwards air force base we have a 34 345 00:10:54,470 --> 00:10:52,320 night 346 00:10:56,790 --> 00:10:54,480 peak wind there and that is 347 00:10:58,870 --> 00:10:56,800 a head and tail wind constraint 348 00:11:01,030 --> 00:10:58,880 violation also we do have a chance for 349 00:11:02,949 --> 00:11:01,040 showers within 30 nautical miles and at 350 00:11:05,269 --> 00:11:02,959 northrop field we do have a chance for 351 00:11:06,150 --> 00:11:05,279 some blowing dust at 352 00:11:08,069 --> 00:11:06,160 four 353 00:11:10,389 --> 00:11:08,079 mile visibility so that does violate the 354 00:11:11,910 --> 00:11:10,399 visibility constraint 355 00:11:14,150 --> 00:11:11,920 for the tile sites weather does look 356 00:11:15,590 --> 00:11:14,160 good as there goes san maroon for estrus 357 00:11:18,550 --> 00:11:15,600 though there is concern with winds 358 00:11:20,949 --> 00:11:18,560 they're gusting up to 33 knots and so 359 00:11:23,430 --> 00:11:20,959 with that that is a headwind um of 33 360 00:11:25,350 --> 00:11:23,440 knots so there that's the only concern 361 00:11:26,710 --> 00:11:25,360 though the other two sites no violations 362 00:11:28,710 --> 00:11:26,720 so we do have at least one good towel 363 00:11:31,110 --> 00:11:28,720 site 364 00:11:32,389 --> 00:11:31,120 if we do happen to delay 24 hours this 365 00:11:34,550 --> 00:11:32,399 is when a frontal boundary will start 366 00:11:35,750 --> 00:11:34,560 coming into the northern florida on this 367 00:11:38,949 --> 00:11:35,760 day winds will shift around to the 368 00:11:40,949 --> 00:11:38,959 southwest gusting about 19 knots 369 00:11:43,430 --> 00:11:40,959 we do have just a slight concern for 370 00:11:44,949 --> 00:11:43,440 showers and also ceiling in the area we 371 00:11:46,550 --> 00:11:44,959 do have more a little more concern about 372 00:11:48,389 --> 00:11:46,560 the ceiling with the there being more 373 00:11:50,550 --> 00:11:48,399 clouds coming into the area so with that 374 00:11:53,430 --> 00:11:50,560 we have a 30 percent chance of ksc 375 00:11:55,350 --> 00:11:53,440 weather prohibiting launch 376 00:11:57,910 --> 00:11:55,360 for our abort landing sites in the u.s 377 00:11:59,829 --> 00:11:57,920 we do have some windy weather again 29 378 00:12:02,150 --> 00:11:59,839 knots there at edwards air force base 379 00:12:03,670 --> 00:12:02,160 and also at northrop and also blowing 380 00:12:06,230 --> 00:12:03,680 with blowing dust being a concern there 381 00:12:07,829 --> 00:12:06,240 again so overall we do still have windy 382 00:12:10,710 --> 00:12:07,839 conditions on day two for the abort 383 00:12:12,550 --> 00:12:10,720 landing sites in the u.s 384 00:12:14,230 --> 00:12:12,560 but the towel sites do improve on this 385 00:12:16,069 --> 00:12:14,240 day all three tile sites do look good we 386 00:12:19,430 --> 00:12:16,079 do have a peak wind there it's just a 22 387 00:12:21,190 --> 00:12:19,440 knots but that is not a violation 388 00:12:22,389 --> 00:12:21,200 and if we happen to delay 48 hours this 389 00:12:23,990 --> 00:12:22,399 is where we start getting concerned 390 00:12:25,269 --> 00:12:24,000 about a ceiling because a front will 391 00:12:26,710 --> 00:12:25,279 come down into the area but it's not 392 00:12:27,990 --> 00:12:26,720 going to push through real cleanly 393 00:12:29,829 --> 00:12:28,000 because we have the upper level ridge in 394 00:12:31,350 --> 00:12:29,839 the area it just tends to get squelched 395 00:12:33,829 --> 00:12:31,360 a little bit but no real significant 396 00:12:35,350 --> 00:12:33,839 trough comes in and so the fronts linger 397 00:12:37,350 --> 00:12:35,360 with that we do have more of a chance 398 00:12:39,750 --> 00:12:37,360 for a ceiling on this day around 5000 399 00:12:41,190 --> 00:12:39,760 feet and that does uh could potentially 400 00:12:43,190 --> 00:12:41,200 violate it will depend on the thickness 401 00:12:45,190 --> 00:12:43,200 of the ceiling and it would also depend 402 00:12:47,590 --> 00:12:45,200 on if the forward observers get good 403 00:12:49,350 --> 00:12:47,600 visibility on the vehicle 404 00:12:50,949 --> 00:12:49,360 we also do have a chance for showers on 405 00:12:52,470 --> 00:12:50,959 this day so with that we do have a 40 406 00:12:55,350 --> 00:12:52,480 percent chance of ksc weather 407 00:12:59,590 --> 00:12:57,269 for the abort landing sites 408 00:13:01,590 --> 00:12:59,600 out west again more concerns still with 409 00:13:03,350 --> 00:13:01,600 wind just so not good weather there all 410 00:13:06,710 --> 00:13:03,360 three days 411 00:13:07,990 --> 00:13:06,720 and for the tile sites 412 00:13:09,910 --> 00:13:08,000 we do have some concerns both with 413 00:13:11,910 --> 00:13:09,920 zaragoza and estrus space light 414 00:13:13,350 --> 00:13:11,920 meteorology group is forecasting showers 415 00:13:15,829 --> 00:13:13,360 within 20 nautical miles of both of 416 00:13:18,710 --> 00:13:15,839 those locations but is still a 417 00:13:20,629 --> 00:13:18,720 good towel site on this day 418 00:13:21,829 --> 00:13:20,639 so overall the first day of 419 00:13:23,670 --> 00:13:21,839 our launch day is the best day 420 00:13:25,509 --> 00:13:23,680 weather-wise before that front comes 421 00:13:28,470 --> 00:13:25,519 down into the area and a 20 chance of 422 00:13:30,629 --> 00:13:28,480 ksc weather prohibiting launch 423 00:13:31,910 --> 00:13:30,639 thank you we'll now take questions when 424 00:13:33,750 --> 00:13:31,920 the microphone comes your way please 425 00:13:34,949 --> 00:13:33,760 state your name affiliation and to whom 426 00:13:37,110 --> 00:13:34,959 you're addressing your question let's 427 00:13:39,509 --> 00:13:37,120 start with marcia 428 00:13:41,829 --> 00:13:39,519 press for kathy is this the same weather 429 00:13:43,750 --> 00:13:41,839 system that's affecting both aoe 430 00:13:45,110 --> 00:13:43,760 sites or is this just coincidentally bad 431 00:13:48,550 --> 00:13:45,120 at both and 432 00:13:50,629 --> 00:13:48,560 how long is that going to continue 433 00:13:52,230 --> 00:13:50,639 um well it is the same system and 434 00:13:53,670 --> 00:13:52,240 basically what happens is they're in the 435 00:13:55,110 --> 00:13:53,680 trough situation out there where they 436 00:13:57,189 --> 00:13:55,120 get the trough and we have the ridge and 437 00:13:59,350 --> 00:13:57,199 so we get the lows that come through and 438 00:14:01,509 --> 00:13:59,360 tighten up the gradient out there so it 439 00:14:02,710 --> 00:14:01,519 is that but i'm not sure how long it's 440 00:14:03,990 --> 00:14:02,720 supposed to continue i need to check 441 00:14:04,710 --> 00:14:04,000 with space light meteorology group on 442 00:14:06,710 --> 00:14:04,720 that 443 00:14:08,710 --> 00:14:06,720 but it certainly is a factor for these 444 00:14:10,949 --> 00:14:08,720 days here and i'm wondering if either of 445 00:14:12,790 --> 00:14:10,959 you ever remember a launch scrub for aoa 446 00:14:14,550 --> 00:14:12,800 weather 447 00:14:17,269 --> 00:14:14,560 i know we've had tail problems in the 448 00:14:18,629 --> 00:14:17,279 past usually as long as we have uh rtls 449 00:14:19,990 --> 00:14:18,639 it's good but we would have to check on 450 00:14:21,990 --> 00:14:20,000 that there certainly depends on the 451 00:14:23,910 --> 00:14:22,000 situation if it's uh mandatory but 452 00:14:25,350 --> 00:14:23,920 usually i can't remember myself yeah i 453 00:14:27,590 --> 00:14:25,360 don't i don't know of any time we have 454 00:14:29,430 --> 00:14:27,600 boarded just for just for aoa yes 455 00:14:32,150 --> 00:14:29,440 usually usually we're good as long as we 456 00:14:34,710 --> 00:14:32,160 have kennedy space center as a rtls and 457 00:14:36,389 --> 00:14:34,720 aoa site which we do so so this would 458 00:14:37,910 --> 00:14:36,399 not be a factor 459 00:14:39,350 --> 00:14:37,920 you're saying we'll check on that yeah 460 00:14:40,310 --> 00:14:39,360 for sure yeah 461 00:14:42,470 --> 00:14:40,320 yeah 462 00:14:44,710 --> 00:14:42,480 and secondly for jeff um 463 00:14:47,110 --> 00:14:44,720 you know is this sort of a silver lining 464 00:14:48,870 --> 00:14:47,120 that your team has had discovery to 465 00:14:51,350 --> 00:14:48,880 maybe you know to 466 00:14:52,870 --> 00:14:51,360 pamper and get ready for four extra 467 00:14:54,069 --> 00:14:52,880 months that normally wouldn't have 468 00:14:56,389 --> 00:14:54,079 happened 469 00:14:58,710 --> 00:14:56,399 well i think the team uh always 470 00:14:59,509 --> 00:14:58,720 appreciates the vehicle discovery 471 00:15:01,590 --> 00:14:59,519 they've 472 00:15:03,430 --> 00:15:01,600 the people that worked on this team 473 00:15:04,790 --> 00:15:03,440 have loved this vehicle you know for 474 00:15:07,030 --> 00:15:04,800 many many years 475 00:15:09,030 --> 00:15:07,040 and so it's it's a bittersweet thing for 476 00:15:11,110 --> 00:15:09,040 them to say goodbye to her for on her 477 00:15:13,350 --> 00:15:11,120 last mission but i think they also have 478 00:15:15,430 --> 00:15:13,360 put the pride and the dedication and 479 00:15:17,269 --> 00:15:15,440 that we've seen throughout the years and 480 00:15:19,350 --> 00:15:17,279 this last you know few months have been 481 00:15:20,470 --> 00:15:19,360 no different than than that so you know 482 00:15:22,150 --> 00:15:20,480 i think everybody's proud in what 483 00:15:25,430 --> 00:15:22,160 they've done and they're really happy to 484 00:15:28,870 --> 00:15:25,440 see her go off on this last mission 485 00:15:32,389 --> 00:15:28,880 todd todd halverson of florida today um 486 00:15:36,629 --> 00:15:32,399 first for uh jeff i wanted to clear up 487 00:15:38,829 --> 00:15:36,639 the aoa launch commit criteria um 488 00:15:40,870 --> 00:15:38,839 does one of those two sites have to be 489 00:15:42,949 --> 00:15:40,880 available and 490 00:15:45,110 --> 00:15:42,959 also i wanted to know what would happen 491 00:15:47,910 --> 00:15:45,120 if you guys were 492 00:15:50,310 --> 00:15:47,920 delayed up until the point 493 00:15:52,550 --> 00:15:50,320 of march 4th in the government shutdown 494 00:15:55,749 --> 00:15:52,560 would you be able to 495 00:15:58,629 --> 00:15:55,759 make a launch attempt in that case 496 00:16:00,230 --> 00:15:58,639 okay and the first one 497 00:16:02,550 --> 00:16:00,240 and i would have to go back and review 498 00:16:04,629 --> 00:16:02,560 where we are on all of our 499 00:16:06,629 --> 00:16:04,639 launch abort boundaries 500 00:16:08,310 --> 00:16:06,639 from the aoa perspective and to see 501 00:16:10,949 --> 00:16:08,320 whether we have coverage and overlap on 502 00:16:12,550 --> 00:16:10,959 those on and for this particular mission 503 00:16:14,230 --> 00:16:12,560 um and i haven't looked at those 504 00:16:15,350 --> 00:16:14,240 specifically and but we can take a look 505 00:16:16,870 --> 00:16:15,360 at that and make sure that we have 506 00:16:18,949 --> 00:16:16,880 coverage and where we don't have 507 00:16:20,629 --> 00:16:18,959 coverage on the aoa ones to make sure 508 00:16:22,629 --> 00:16:20,639 and maybe kathy knows a little bit more 509 00:16:23,430 --> 00:16:22,639 on the weather side of it but 510 00:16:25,350 --> 00:16:23,440 um 511 00:16:27,590 --> 00:16:25,360 we would have to review that 512 00:16:29,350 --> 00:16:27,600 and then on the second question 513 00:16:31,350 --> 00:16:29,360 clearly we're going to go down the path 514 00:16:33,269 --> 00:16:31,360 and be ready to go whatever the program 515 00:16:34,870 --> 00:16:33,279 comes back and whatever 516 00:16:36,150 --> 00:16:34,880 you know everybody comes back and says 517 00:16:37,670 --> 00:16:36,160 this is going to be our plan for 518 00:16:39,829 --> 00:16:37,680 whatever it is and we'll be ready to 519 00:16:41,590 --> 00:16:39,839 support that as we always have 520 00:16:43,110 --> 00:16:41,600 regardless of what other things are out 521 00:16:44,389 --> 00:16:43,120 there so 522 00:16:45,670 --> 00:16:44,399 i can't predict what's going to happen 523 00:16:47,509 --> 00:16:45,680 with all of those other things but 524 00:16:49,030 --> 00:16:47,519 certainly you know our job is to make 525 00:16:52,310 --> 00:16:49,040 sure that we're ready for any posture 526 00:16:54,470 --> 00:16:52,320 and anything that does happen out there 527 00:16:58,310 --> 00:16:54,480 robert 528 00:17:00,069 --> 00:16:58,320 um for jeff 529 00:17:01,829 --> 00:17:00,079 i realized that 530 00:17:03,509 --> 00:17:01,839 you said and mike moses said the other 531 00:17:05,669 --> 00:17:03,519 day that the um 532 00:17:07,029 --> 00:17:05,679 that if atv couldn't dock or there was a 533 00:17:09,429 --> 00:17:07,039 problem that would be a real-time 534 00:17:11,350 --> 00:17:09,439 decision but is there a scenario where 535 00:17:13,110 --> 00:17:11,360 if you couldn't dock on that day that 536 00:17:15,029 --> 00:17:13,120 you could still launch that day and the 537 00:17:16,949 --> 00:17:15,039 same thing for the next day would you be 538 00:17:18,789 --> 00:17:16,959 able to is there a scenario where you 539 00:17:19,909 --> 00:17:18,799 could reset that quickly for the next 540 00:17:22,069 --> 00:17:19,919 day 541 00:17:23,909 --> 00:17:22,079 the program um is still looking at all 542 00:17:25,350 --> 00:17:23,919 the different contingency options and 543 00:17:27,029 --> 00:17:25,360 all the different types of things that 544 00:17:28,789 --> 00:17:27,039 that could go wrong 545 00:17:31,590 --> 00:17:28,799 associated with that docking in that 546 00:17:32,870 --> 00:17:31,600 vehicle so um i don't have all of that 547 00:17:34,710 --> 00:17:32,880 data that's going to be a program 548 00:17:36,789 --> 00:17:34,720 decision based on what those contingency 549 00:17:39,190 --> 00:17:36,799 scenarios come back and say that are 550 00:17:41,190 --> 00:17:39,200 acceptable and those that are not 551 00:17:43,029 --> 00:17:41,200 what our job is here is to make sure 552 00:17:44,870 --> 00:17:43,039 that we can support any or all of those 553 00:17:47,350 --> 00:17:44,880 and be ready in a posture from a launch 554 00:17:50,230 --> 00:17:47,360 perspective to be ready to go whenever 555 00:17:52,470 --> 00:17:50,240 they give us that green light so 556 00:17:54,710 --> 00:17:52,480 those are honestly still in work and so 557 00:17:55,830 --> 00:17:54,720 i i can't really comment on where we are 558 00:17:57,990 --> 00:17:55,840 with all of those because i don't 559 00:17:59,990 --> 00:17:58,000 honestly know 560 00:18:02,070 --> 00:18:00,000 thanks and given that this is the last 561 00:18:04,230 --> 00:18:02,080 flight of discovery are 562 00:18:06,870 --> 00:18:04,240 is the launch team at all planning to to 563 00:18:09,029 --> 00:18:06,880 mark that uh milestone during the count 564 00:18:10,549 --> 00:18:09,039 in any way 565 00:18:13,270 --> 00:18:10,559 during the countdown we don't really 566 00:18:14,870 --> 00:18:13,280 have anything planned 567 00:18:17,110 --> 00:18:14,880 because we like to keep everyone focused 568 00:18:18,310 --> 00:18:17,120 and they always are and 569 00:18:20,310 --> 00:18:18,320 i say we like to keep them but they 570 00:18:22,710 --> 00:18:20,320 always are focused and we don't like to 571 00:18:24,549 --> 00:18:22,720 do things to uh to distract them we we 572 00:18:26,549 --> 00:18:24,559 have right along during this particular 573 00:18:28,230 --> 00:18:26,559 flow and the other ones too we've tried 574 00:18:30,630 --> 00:18:28,240 to take time out and mark some of the 575 00:18:32,310 --> 00:18:30,640 milestones along the way um 576 00:18:34,390 --> 00:18:32,320 and i know folks have taken the 577 00:18:36,150 --> 00:18:34,400 opportunities to to reflect on a lot of 578 00:18:37,029 --> 00:18:36,160 different things and and we've done some 579 00:18:39,110 --> 00:18:37,039 things 580 00:18:41,350 --> 00:18:39,120 that are both personal and otherwise 581 00:18:42,789 --> 00:18:41,360 with with the teams and so 582 00:18:44,230 --> 00:18:42,799 we've done a lot of that along the way 583 00:18:45,830 --> 00:18:44,240 and i think people will do a lot of that 584 00:18:47,750 --> 00:18:45,840 in their own way as we go through the 585 00:18:50,630 --> 00:18:47,760 remainder of the countdown it'll be 586 00:18:55,029 --> 00:18:50,640 special to a lot of folks i think 587 00:18:59,510 --> 00:18:57,430 that will conclude today's l minus three 588 00:19:01,590 --> 00:18:59,520 pre-countdown status briefing as a 589 00:19:04,150 --> 00:19:01,600 reminder the countdown begins tonight at 590 00:19:06,070 --> 00:19:04,160 or this afternoon at 3 pm eastern time 591 00:19:07,909 --> 00:19:06,080 please join us live on nasa television 592 00:19:10,390 --> 00:19:07,919 tomorrow at 10 a.m eastern for the l 593 00:19:13,190 --> 00:19:10,400 minus 2 countdown status briefing for