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Conference 7.286::space

Title:Space Exploration
Notice:Shuttle launch schedules, see Note 6
Moderator:PRAGMA::GRIFFIN
Created:Mon Feb 17 1986
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:974
Total number of notes:18843

421.0. "SRB Fails Ultrasound Test" by OBLIO::STONE () Fri Apr 01 1988 15:44

    I saw a brief news report on NBC News At Sunrise that the right
    hand SRB had failed some kind of ultrasound testing.  It seems that
    there is some debonding of the propellant from the casing.  Jay
    Barbare (sp) stated that the gaps were as large as 1" in some areas.
    The report also stated that this problem was very significant in
    that there are no segements available for a quick swap and that
    a launch delay was expected to take the date past the Nov. elections.
    
    Does anyone closer to the source have any further info?
    
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421.1does this timing surprise anyone?STAR::BANKSIn Search of MediocrityFri Apr 01 1988 18:164
    Hhmm.  I'd have bet that the next launch would be after the election
    even before this story.
    
    I'm not saying conspiracy here, but I am saying strong coincidence.
421.2What am I missing here?LILAC::MKPROJREAGAN::ZOREFri Apr 01 1988 21:097
For the life of me I can't understand why anyone in the Administration would 
want to delay the next launch until AFTER the elections.  It would seem in 
my humble mind that the Reagan administration would want to have the launch 
before the election so that they (the Republicans) would reap any PR 
benefits to be had.

Rich
421.3Minimize RiskMILVAX::SCOLAROA keyboard, how quaint!Fri Apr 01 1988 21:214
    If it fails they reap the the PR negatives, and perhaps lose the
    presidency.
    
    Tony
421.4Will there still be an August Shuttle launch?NYEM1::HOWANSKYSat Apr 02 1988 20:322
    what's the chances of an august lift date of the sts?
    
421.5RE 421.4SHAOLN::DENSMORELegion of Decency, RetiredMon Apr 04 1988 12:348
    The last report I heard/saw said that the debonding was visually
    noted and the ultrasound was taken to see how far it had spread.
    the result was that it had NOT spread and that it could be repaired
    "on site".  Any one else have later info?
    
    The report said that the launch date would not be pushed out.
    
    					Mike
421.6I'm not holding my breath....SNDCSL::SMITHWilliam P.N. (WOOKIE::) SmithMon Apr 04 1988 19:075
    This reminds me of the cartoon of the shuttle stack sitting on the
    launchpad with a voice in the background going "T minus 10, 11,
    12, 13, 14, ..."
    
    Willie
421.7SSME problems will cause delayJANUS::BARKERWed Apr 06 1988 23:005
There was a report in a British newspaper a couple of days ago saying that
the SSME on Discovery needs some major work before it's flyable and this will
definitely cause a slip in the scheduled August launch date.

jb
421.8A touch of paranoiaCOLORS::HARDYWed Apr 13 1988 16:227
    Though it's probably an index of my paranoia, I think I'd sleep
    easier knowing the launch had been postponed. There is just too
    much potential for political heat screwing up the process, and
    the judgement of those involved.
    
    Pat
    
421.9A bit of detailVINO::DZIEDZICWed Apr 13 1988 16:4723
    This week's Aviation Leak has information on both the SRBs and
    the SSMEs.  Apparently the SRB insulation debonding is detected
    using a feeler gauge (?!) - the separation area is a few inches
    by a fractional part of an inch.  The article mentioned the
    debonding may be due to insufficient adhesive sprayed in that
    area (the field joints by the new capture ring feature).  The
    SSME problem was more vague, but the upshot was that the SSMEs
    probably wouldn't contribute appreciably to launch delays.
    
    NASA is supposed to announce during the next few days how long
    a delay will be caused by the SRB problems.  Since all the
    planned-in contigency time has been used up, it will probably
    be a fairly lengthy (several weeks/month or more) delay.
    
    I too would vote for doing the first launch right (of course,
    I'd also vote for doing the successive launches right, too!).
    However, I have to wonder how much influence the November
    elections will have on the decision on how long to delay.
    If only the space program wasn't run by politically-motivated
    people . . .
    
    Still waiting for the resumption of flights.  Save me a seat!
    
421.10schedule slip...SHAOLN::DENSMORELegion of Decency, RetiredThu May 05 1988 12:026
    The latest news is that the launch has been postponed to late August
    but could easily slip into September.  The local paper didn't specify
    the exact reason.  I believe they are just behind schedule and that
    there is no critical problem.
    
    						Mike