Sie sind auf Seite 1von 14

National Aeronautics and

Space Administratkon
Washington. D C 20546
AC 202 755-8370 1 L L'-

For Release
IMMEDIATE

Press Kit Project


Wet Countdown
Demonstration and
Flight Readiness
RELEASE NO: 31-19 Firing

Contents

GENERAL RELEASE .............................................. I

WET COUNTDOWN DEMONSTRATION TEST/FLIGHT READINESS FIRING .......... 4

COUNTDOWN AND FLIGHT READINESS FIRINGG ........................ 5

Countdown Seauence - Flight Readiness Firing ............... 7


Flight Readiness Firing ....................................

MISSiON VERIFICAMION TEST.......


....................................

Return-to-Launch-Site Abort Exercise........................9


Abort-Once-Around Exercise.................................. 10
Mission Simulation.......................................... 10
7nJ3-of-1ission Exercise .................................... Ii

^ROrRA2'1 NANAGEM'.7 ............................................ 1

January 29, 1981


I'AS New~s
Nationa l Aeronaulics and
Space Administration
Washingtor D C 20546
AC, 0? 755-8370

David Garrett For Release


Headquarters, Washington, D.C. IMMEDIA m E
(Phone: 202/755-3090)

Dick Young
Kennedy Space Center, Pla.
(Phone: 305/867-2468)

'reerry White
Johnson Space Center, 'louston, mexas
(Phone: 713/483-5111)

RELEAS1F NO: RN-OO

m1 r.E
r DRE.SS RrIIEARSAL SET FOR FEBRUARY
SPACE SHtj

A cdress rehearsal of all aspects of the first Space shuttle

mission (STS-1) will be conducted by NASA in February to clear

thle way for thle launch of the shuttle's first orbit il flight, now

scheduled for no earlier than March 17, lq81.

hoe eoxerciqe will touch upon all segments of the mission --

including countdown ani launch, ascent and oroital operations,

and reentry and landinq under normal and abort conditions.

-he lI-s3av test series will involve operations at the

Kennedy p'p-ico (--nt,-r in Flor ida, tlhe Johnson Spuc'e k-entor in

Tlouston, the Dryden Flight Research Center in Fdwards, Calif.,

tho 'Aar-ha1 sIpace ligght Center, luntsville, Ala., and the Whhite

Sonds Missil- R3nqo in New Mexico.

Janulry ?9, M9R

- my) r -
the Wet Count-
It will be divided into two major seztions:
Readiness Firing, which will in-
down Demonstration Test/Flight
the orbit-er's three main en-
clude a 20-second test firing of
'rest, which will be centered
gines, and a Mission Verification

on flight and landing operations.

[SS-l will be 54 hours, 30


The first Space ShuttlE mission
from the Kennedy Space Center.
minutes in duration with launch
byi the Johnson Space Cen-
Mission operations will be controlled
is the primary landinq
ter. "he Dryden Flight Research Center
return-to-laurnch-site abort
site, but provisions exist [or a
and an abort landing after
landing at the Kennedy Space Center
at the Northrop
less than a single orbit (abort-once-around)
N.M.
Strip, White Sands Missile Rarnge,

the .q-l mission are John


Astronauts on the prime crew for
pilot. Backup crew members
Young, commander, and Robert -rippen,
-ruly, pilot.
are Joe Engle, commander, .and Richard

of the oi'bitcr ColuIn')i-,


The STS-l. space vehicle, cons sting
and liquids oxy-
the external tank which supplies liquid hydrogen
three main engines, andi two
gen propellants to the orbiter's
from Fennedy's Vehirlo Asselilhly
solid rocket boosters, was moved
3q on Dec. 20.
Building to nad A at Launch Complex

anl mobile lautncher ol -ttfor . on wh ich it-


-he space vehicl
support oquipment for the -n0
rests were connected with qroun.

-ost which beq.gn on Jan. ?.


Validation

amok)' e-
-3-

flight alnd ground system tests in


An extensive series of

the stage for the 11-day dress re-


January and early February set
to clear the way for
hearsal. which must be successfully completed

I 111ch.

Readiness Firing
The Wet 2ountdown Dem,-nstrttion "'est/Flight
all elements of the
and Mission Verification Test will exercise
including personnel, facilities,
new Space Transportation System,

programs in a demanding real time en-


space vehicle and computer

the proper inteqration of all elements


vironment to demnonstrate

pli-01- to thle STS-I mission.

The 0Wct Counltdown Demonstration/Flight Readiness Firing at

be followed by approximately three weeks by a "dry"


Kennedy will

the external tank unI olded and the prime


l-unch 'imnulation wit!h

this dry couhtdown test, the space veh icle


cr-ow onl boat d. Duri ng

thlrougL the fi na five h1owUs of the countdown


will 0e pI ocessed

to a -imI'ulatedi ignition and liftotf.

t. e clew ill participato is piim -1rily a


iq tc ;t itn whi ch

o-heCkeut ot fliiqht and q10roun1d SuppOIt Systems.

(END OF ;CWENERtAIL l\FrlhAE)

-Ipol C-
-4-

WET COUNTDOWN DEMONSTRATION TEST/FLIGHT READINESS FIRING

The Wet Countdown Demonstration Test/Flight Readiness Firinq


is a detailed practice run for the STS-l launch and is aimed at
identifying any failures or weaknesses in spacecraft and ground
systems before launcl day. Conditions and timelines for the test
and firing duplicate as close as practicable those planned for
STS-l launch, and include tanking and detanking of the orbiter
Columbia and the external tank (hence "wet") and a complete
checkout of Pad A at Complex 39.

Columbia's cabin will be unmanned when propellant loading


begins, and orbiter systems will be remotely operated during the
test. The six-day demonstration test will culminate in a 20-
second firing of Columbia's three main engines at throttle set-
tings ranging from 94 to 100 percent of rated thrust while the
engine nozzles are tilted in their gimbals as they would be in
flight to control the direction of thrust.

Extra experience and training will be gained from the test


and readiness firing by other NASA facilities involved in Shuttle
operations. Flight controllers in the Mission Control Center at
the Johnson Space Center in Houston will monitor Columbia's sys-
tems during the tests, as will personnel at the Huntsville Opera-
tions Support Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville,
Ala.

While the main engines, orbiter, external tank, solid rocket


boosters and ground support systems have been tested individu-
ally, the demonstration test and readiness firing will be the
only chance to test the full vehicle "stack" in launch conditions
without proceeding to an actual launch.

A successful test will provide confidence that the Space


Shuttle is ready for fliqht.

Both wet an J dry launch rehearsals wc e conAdueLed prior to


al' 13 Saturn V and four Saturn lB launches from Complex 39, but
those tests did no t include the on-pad rocket engine firing which
will be such a significant part of this exercise.

Amonq the purposes of the test and firing are:

* qo test all elements of the Space Transportation Fystem ,n


a 0ealtime1aunch countdown which will culmi nate in the firing
of the orbiter's three main engines and a simulated launch to in-
sure thei proper Integration prior to the qST-l flight.

* To vet ify the capability of the launch facility to provide


propellants to the Shutt e under launch conditions. The external
tank and orbiter systems will be exposed to the same thermal en-
vironmtent they will experience duzinq SMS-l launch preparations.

-more-
The main propulsion system control elements also will be re-
quired to maintain pressure in the external tank and in the malin
engines during ,1? test firing as they would during an actual
launch.
'Po verify the ability of the orbiter's auxiliary power
units and hydraulic system, and the flight control system to
throttle and gimbal the main engines.

e To evaluate the performance of avionics anid computer pro-


grams in controlling and monitoring the interaction of the exter-
nal tank and main engines under the vibration and sound condi-
tions they will experience during ignition and the pre-liftoff
pha se.
* To verify that Kennedy's Launch Processing System and
Columbia's bank of general purpose computers can work together
in control'ing the launch countdown sequence.

* To verify compatibility of the Space Shuttle's onboard


avionics equipment with the iadio frequencies used by ground sup-
port elements during the launch phase.

* To assess the "twang" effects of the orbiter's three main


engines. At main engine ignition, a bending movement is created,
causing the upper extremi ties of the entire Space Shuttle "stack"
to bend toward the external tank side of the stack and to twang
back as the sprinq action of the hold down mechanisms react
against the main propulsion system bending forces. Thle twang
effect occuIs ovei a period of a few seconds (approximately 1,
seconds) at the end of wlich the solid rocket boosters would oe
filed for liftoff This test will certify the time phasing of
the orbiters main engines and solid rocket booster ignition.
* To exercise the ground data ptocessi nq system and methods
and make any needed fixes before the S'1'-l launch.
* 'To compare earlier dynamic and vibioacoustic testing data
to act ual c nd it i OIs dur i nq launch.

COUNDO'PWX)\N- AND FLICI1'PRFADINErqSSq FIUING

Tihe Wet Coun ' lown Demons L. at i on "es t /F l i qh t Read i ness F i r i ng


preparation phase begi ns on the first day of the 11-day STS-1
simulation and ends of the sixth day. 'he schedule includes a
number of built-in holds. All operational elements suppor tinq
the TS - I mission will par ticipate and demonstrate thei r readi-
ness oyi exeIc isincj all countdown functions and interfaces. T-0
will he pl1anned to kCCU1 at the opening of the launcnh wiildOw,
which is approximately five hours in duration.

-more-
As for the Sq'S-1 lauLIcih, the window will open at sunrise
u1
plhq * ninutes. 'he Pliqht Roadines Firing is scheduled for no
e arlier than Feb. 10. Window opening times for that dlate and the
Fix suhqeO1uent days are a-, follows:
Feb. 10 - ':q0 a.m.. EST
Feb'). 11 - 7 :4q a.m. EST'
Feb. 12 - 7:438 a.m. EST
Fe'b-. 1 - 7:47 a.mn. FST
Fe b. 1 4 - 7: -. a . m. EST
a. . T
ES.
Fe b). 1r - 7:4 1
Feb. 16 - 7:14 3.m. EST

h'le firing pre-count will he pickede up at 3 hours


1-S with
thle power i nq up o f the soli1d rocket boos ters, orbi ter and ground
support equipment. "he 3"'S,-l launch pre-countiown begins at '-6S
hours. However, for the Flight Readiness Firing, a number of
events 'wiCh would! normally OCCU! between r"-68 hours and T-ci3
hours ('uch aq loading hype.rqol ic propellants for the orbiter's
auxiliary power uinits anJ the boostsrs' hydraulic power units'
will !vive already hoeen iccomplished as I part of earlier testq.
!Ivpergo i propell intq (C 1 tLhe orbitor's orbital m-ineliverinq
syc tern an]3 reaction con t ol svy tern were to be l oaded i n late
Ja uar V.

"l'e rl iahlt -Rc-id iness Fi in(i O .- couInt inc-ludoes the capa-


hiilitv for thlee built-in holdq. n'nse col' inclutde one of 1?
hou I JSIt1ItiO l lIt hI o-1 I'.ii 3!ni t.t" N :iS II;
)t' Ji Itiitionl,
d
o{c Ui i nc -It - -1 h(u I Z, I ) nin nI)ts Ind at hourS,
O-r 3I0 ni LIUteq

tona ' 'ol IJ


Add Li ' pI~lanne] Ju! i nq CIO
he LM t o(Wn wh ic-
!elii ns atL"-'; ut
ho!.e 'q. -iie nic-itod it the approp zi- t"
pI iCe4s iI thie Fl iqllt ;eadi ine-'s Fi iinq( ('ount lOWn s"eOkuence wh ilh
f II1 ow';
Countdown Sequence - Flight Readiness Firing
*'ount T ime Function
T-S.3 hIours Start of FRF call to stations.
T-l1 hours Extend fixed service structure
external tank gaseous oxygen vent
arm/start retraction of rotating
service structure.
T-' hLours, 30 minutes Retract external tank intertan'k
access arm on Fixed service
structure.

T-5) hour s, 10 minutes Clear launch pad to begin countiown.


¶-S hours coLuMLit.wn.
S3t.irt ' hi I I ! .w n I jiq Zji
oxygen,'l iquL)i lhyJ I.Ogen trans;'eŽr
sys teln.

--1 hOuis, 10 minutes Regjin lii qLi 1 oevq(en fill of external


ta nk and rL. MPN fac i I i ty/ot bi te r
chII i I I low n .
,7- hI, 'kIS , 1) i
in e q I I I 1uteIvlr oqoen fi I of exter-
-1I t ank,.

hu LIIs, 1 r Li tree
0 3n0-hO U LI Ii t- in hol.Ii. Tr- .
oa 1i11 kj o np ltt ;t ii- r"' rI e -
I nI i. tipIr tt * t. r ) IClt t o0s
pI aanel0 J (r LI i nq >I -1 lOLunt'iowti,
ze n. t V * i II q ni f ol 1 ow I 11 th i
ho I .i II',] i "t oJ by T-I heLu!,

'-1 I :IL t 0!; ;: I nu t


T11, .)~ul t - i h l i.
- r uI ti 'O f 01
o !I .-Iu
LE h 1 1n
atIsos ^ ' -
I n1" '-il'i 1 o'ini 1 t"''rh I
jut n lt i .re

- r t I 't t t i

II t ;1 iI .I , Io, I
I I I pI . , kill I
.' - .T~ ~~ I ~ ~ tI 'iF* ilOli 1. ~'v''0! l I t'
T-3 minutes, 30 seconds Orbiter placed on internal power.

T-3 minutes, 10 seconds Run gimbal slew profile, Space


Shuttle main engine.

T -2 minutes, S seconds External cank oxygen to flight


pressure.

T-2 minutes, 50 seconds Taxternal tank gaseous oxygen vent


arm retracted.

T-l minute, S7 seconds External tank hydrogen to flight


pressure.

T-25 seconds solid rocket booster hydraulic pOWer


units activated/orbiter onboard
general purpose computer assumes
control of terminal countiown,,'ground
launch sequencer remains on linc
supporting.

T-l8 seconds Verify solid rocket booster nozle


position.

T-I1 seconds Initiate pre-liftoff sounld suppres-


sion syqtem water (post-liftoff qvs-
tom - "rainbirds" - inhihited for
F'ight Readiness Firing).

T-3.8 seconds Main enqinritstart seCuence lbeqins.

T+.24 second tMl engines at 1)O peicent tHrust.

T± .R seconds qiiul iteod o'xeinal tank um!i1iC1l


retract'qimLIIate1d Solil IocKet
bo t o i q Iit ionII I ' ' i ^ido. ;- :t
I C IC, '' .

1 second s Simulated 1iiftt f

q.
I+ to ,O seco nIds M1i n cn1i r-e shutdowLI.t
Ortin 11h1.
i SS Ilied .

T+22 seconds .o Ii Iock ,t !)oo s t Ihvill U ic O


uniit- s h itdown.

*s- to ?~' . '( 1'on 'I ,1iln en~ i (N ro \ ' Hx

-mot o-
Flight Rteadiness Fin

The Flight Readiness Firlng operation is limited to approx-


imately 20 seconds of main stage operation with t:he start identi-
cal to that plarned for the 3's-l launch. "'he engines will be
tested at q4 percent and 100 percent rated p,*wer level with shut-
down occurring from lOO percent. Gimbaling of the main engine
will be performed at both power levels.

The three engines are not ignited simultaneously but start


commands are issue(d at intervals of about 1?0 milliseconds. The
start command for engine 3 is issuied at T-3.8 seconds, that for
engine 2 at T-3.68 seconds, followed by the start command for
engine I at T-3.56 seconds. The engines 3re throttled to 100
percent at approximatel'y T-0. Part way through the burrn, the
engines are throttled back to 94 percent of rated thrust. Near
the burn's end, they are throLttled tp to 100 percent of rated
thrust. The engine nozzles are gnimbaled during both peak and
reduced thrust.

The Wet Countdown Demtonstzttion Test/Flight Readiness Firinig


will end when all propeliants and cyrogenics have been removed
from the vehicle after engine firing.

"'he seventh dav of the overall I-dav d*ress iehearsal will


be reserved foi seuL mijj pad operations and will not include any
flight simulation test activity.

MlI SS 1 ( I IF"E' T I ('I A'rI ON '1'F4P

A ser ies of foui coord nated tests and simul it ions will f ol -
low the Countdown Demonstration -est/Fliiqht Readiness Firing at
the lonnendv .;Pice @entrt. -'he -nimulations begin or the ei qhth day
of tho I I-Jav series.

'! 'a .t: 't 'A


Oi Ia L -sI tLe aiO I -imuI .iti 1r -t thle
Kennedy Space 'enter's Shuttle tandir'g Facility; an 3bort-cnce-
around Iindi ri 'imul'ation at the White Sands xlissile Range; a r)(%-
hOUI -1 011n1 TI 1i On ion simulatioon
Si at the Johnson Space C'enter
O! tle fi i 7Iht phase of t he :. i ssi on from sol i, toctet booster iq-
t ion to a out i no I anA i no i.t tlho end of t h- f I iqI t ; aId aIn rnid-
ot-n, i;>i I lvll rkq eo xI t' ot thle Dr ydeI FlI gh t Re ear h en(ter
i[I ('- . o1sf()t,

'ot lI fT to atIh - tb e A bo rt r'x or cm

Th i .iI I invo'vo i' e'.uot


I ur ctlv i tties aIt Keonlodv' s
'Th t tie And I no Fo i to dei:n1-n t I at" tLhe qi oimni
t Lad team' i-
tL v
v tttr
'I tuat i n_ 'ls wlonq 1I rŽtu I n- to- InLNIC-
I to abort.
o ',It Ž oxeleise is a siml -it ion of the or bi tot app I oach
a J: : ^'1 'Ik1 1il P i .t i '-i O M -I (I,., t000feot) ate*
1n't:'r ti ti " I unr. t h I ani no ItJ I)OS' t -
I m7ot iV I t i nII )I I t (,I '~m I n
-10-

The major differences between this abort exercise and s;uch


an actual abort will be related to using a T-38 jet aircraft
instead of an orbiter for the approach and landing and a simu-
lated orbiter aircraft with simulated interfaces for ground
connections.

The T-33 landing will be planned tc. occur at a time of day


compatible with a liftoff at the opening of the launch window.
The purpose of the simulated return-to-latinch-site abort is to
exercise the flight control team, post-landing operations team,
crash and rescue team, and airspace and chase aircraft control
organizations.

Abort-Once-Around Exercise

A similar series of four activities will also be conducted


on the eighth day at the Northrop Strip, White Sands Miissile
Range, in parallel with the return-to-launch-site abort exercise
at T(ennedy. This exercise is a simulation of approach, landing
and post-landing activities following an abort-once-around from
approximately 12,200 mn (40,000 ft.) through orbiter safing. As
at Kennedy, a -- 38 aircraft wiil be used to irnu late thle ci bi-
ter's approach and lanling and the post-landing activities on the
ground.

The purpose of the simulated approach -'1id lanling and suh-


sequent activities is to exercise the flight c.nttel telm, Ciost-
landing operations team, craFh and rescue team. and airspace and
chase airciaft control organizations.

Mission Simulation

A Shuttle mission simulator and the Mission Control Center


at the Johnson Space Center will be electronically linked to pro-
vide a realistic, 56-hour simulation of the I'PS-
mission from
solid rocket booster ignition and liftoff to a landincg at the
primary landing site, th,- Dryden Flight Research Center at
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. This exercise will be conducted
on diays 9, 10 a.nd II with the simulated liftoff to occur at the
opening of the launch window. This will be the seventh and final
long-duration mission simulation for the STS5-l flight crews.

During the months of training leading up to the Mission


Verification Test, prime and bickup flight crews and flight con-
trol teams have routinely run mission phase simulation (launch,
entry, aborts, on-orbit operations) on a Tuesday and -hurssiay
schedule, with long duration simulations spaced a month to six
weeks part.

This full-duration mission simulition during the Mission


Verification Test will be the final 'w-ilk-throuilh" of tile qvS-l
f]iqht profile and timeline s)efort- the lctinal flight hrninq.

-Iflr'? -
End-of-Mission Exercise

This is a series of four activities at Dryden Flight Re-


search Center to demonstrate the ground team's readiness to sup-
port various situations following the end-of-mission landing at
the primary landing site. They will be conducted on the Ilth day
of the test series and wrap up the combined Countdown Demonstra-
tion Test/Flight Readiness Firing and Mission Verification Test.

A T-38 jet aircraft will be used to simulate the orbiter


approach and landing phase beginning at an altitude of approxi-
mately 12,200 m (40,000 ft.). The landing will be timed so that
touchdown coincides with that of the long-duration mission simu-
lation underway at the Johnson Space Center in Texas. After land-
ing, the T-38 will taxi past an orbiter .ockup which will be
placed at the nominal wheels stop point. The orbiter mockup has
the appropriate interfaces for ground connections to enable
ground crews in the recovery convoy to simulate post-landing saf-
ing operations and turnaround initiation. Both on-runway and off-
runway contingency situations will also be simulated as they were
during the return-to-launch-site abort exercise at Kennedy and
the abort-once-around abort exercise at White Sands.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

NASA Headquarters

Dr. Alan Lovelace Acting 7Almninistrator

John F. Yardley Associate Administrator for


Space Transportation Systems
L. Michael Weeks Deputy Associate Administrator
for Space Transportation
Systems
David R. Braunstein Deputy Associate Administrator
for Space Transporation
Systems (Management)
Daniel M. Germany Director, Orbiter Programs

Walter F. Dankoff Director, Engine Programs

Edward P. Andrews Director, Ground Systems and


Flight 'nest
LeRoy E. DtiY Director, Systems Engineering
and Integration
FranK Van Rensselear Director, Expendable Equipment

-more-
-12-

Dryden Flight Research Center

Director
Isaa: T. Gillam IV
Deputy Director
Robert F. Johannes
Chief of Flight Operations
John A. Manke
Shuttle Project Manager
Mel Burke

Johnson Space Center

Director
Christopher C. Kraft Jr.
Manager, Space Shuttle Program
Robert F. Thompson
Manager, Orbital Flight Test
Donald K. "Deke" Slayton
Manager, Space Shuttle Orbiter
Aaron Cohen Project Office

Director of Flight Operations


George W.S. Abbey
Direclor of Engineering and
Maxime A. Faget Development

Director of Data Systems and


Lynwood C. Dunseith Analysis

Kennedy Space Center

Director
Richard C. Smith
Deputy Director
Ge ald D. Griffin
Associate Director for STS
Raymond I,.Clark Development

Manager, Shuttle Projects


Dr. Robert H. Gray Office

Director, Shuttle Operations


George F. Page

- more-
Marshall Space Flight Center

Dr. William R. Lucas Director

Thomas J. Lee Deputy Director

Robert E. Lindstrom Manager, MSFC Shuttle Projects


Office

James E. Kingsbury Director, Science and Engi-


neering Directorate

James B. Odom Manager, External Tank Project

George B. Hardy Manager, Solid Rocket Booster


Project

James R. Thompson Jr. Manager, Space Shuttle Main


Engine Project

James M. Sisson Manager, Engineering and Major


'Pest Management Office

-end-

(Index: 37)

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen