Mission: STS-127 Orbiter: OV-105 (Endeavour) Current Location: Pad 39B Target Launch Date: No Earlier Than July 15, 2009 Launch Window Open: 5:58:10 pm EDT Preferred Launch Time: 6:03:10 pm EDT Launch Window Close: 6:08:10 pm EDT Crew: Commander Mark “Roman” Polansky, Pilot Doug Hurley, Mission Specialists Dave Wolf, Christopher Cassidy, Julie Payette, Tom Marshburn and Space Station Flight Engineer Tim Kopra Payload: JEM EF, ELM-ES, ICC-VLD External Tank: ET-131 Booster Set: BI-138/RSRM-106 Launch Platform: MLP-3 Launch Pad: Pad 39A Mission Duration: ~ 17 (STS-127) Landing Date/Time: TBD STATUS SUMMARY: Early this morning the countdown for the launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour resumed at the T-11 hour mark following a scrub and implementation of a 48 hour long recycle procedure. Over the last day or so the launch team drained the external fuel tank, extended the RSS (rotating service structure), removed and replaced some of the reaction control system tyvek covers, and conducted an analysis of fuel cell 3 performance which had been running slightly warm. Yesterday the Endeavour astronauts enjoyed a little down time while reviewing their mission timelines which will be adjusted slightly to accommodate the change in launch date. At 8:38 am EDT this morning the countdown came out of a 1 hour long planned hold at the T-6 hour point and with a Go from the Mission Management Team engineers began fueling Endeavour’s external fuel tank on time per the checklist. Approximately 385,265 gallons of liquid hydrogen and 143,351 gallons of liquid oxygen are flowing into Endeavour in support of a 6:03:10 pm EDT launch to the International Space Station. Fueling generally takes about 3 hours after which time crew depart for the launch pad to prepare for the arrival and ingress of the astronauts which is planned for 2:43 pm EDT. COUNTDOWN MILESTONES (chart courtesy: NASA) Launch Day (Sunday, July 15)
Resume countdown (8:38 a.m.)
Chill down propellant transfer lines (8:38 a.m.)
Begin loading the external fuel tank with about 500,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants
Complete filling the external tank with its flight load of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants (about 11:38 p.m.)
Final Inspection Team proceeds to launch pad
Perform inertial measurement unit preflight calibration
Align Merritt Island Launch Area tracking antennas
Enter planned 2-hour, 30-minute built-in hold at T-3 hours (11:38 p.m.)
Perform open loop test with Eastern Range
Resume countdown at T-3 hours (2:08 p.m.)
Crew departs Operations and Checkout Building for the pad (2:13 p.m.)
Complete closeout preparations in the White Room
Check cockpit switch configurations
Flight crew begins entry into the orbiter (2:43 p.m.)
Astronauts perform air-to-ground voice checks with Launch and Mission Control
Begin to close Endeavour’s crew hatch (3:58 p.m.)
Begin Eastern Range final network open loop command checks
Perform hatch seal and cabin leak checks
Complete White Room closeout
Closeout crew moves to fallback area
Primary ascent guidance data is transferred to the backup flight system
Enter planned 10-minute hold at T-20 minutes (4:48 p.m.)
NASA test director conducts final launch team briefings
Resume countdown at T-20 minutes (4:58 p.m.)
Transition the orbiter's onboard computers to launch configuration
Start fuel cell thermal conditioning
Close orbiter cabin vent valves
Transition backup flight system to launch configuration
Enter estimated 45-minute hold at T-9 minutes (5:09 p.m.)
Launch director, Mission Management Team and NASA test director conduct final polls for "go/no go" to launch
Resume countdown at T-9 minutes (5:54 p.m.)
Start automatic ground launch sequencer (T-9 minutes)
Retract orbiter crew access arm (T-7:30)
Start mission recorders (T-6:15)
Start auxiliary power units (T-5)
Arm solid rocket booster and external tank range safety safe and arm devices (T-5)
Start liquid oxygen drainback (T-4:55)
Start orbiter aerosurface profile test (T-3:55)
Start main engine gimbal profile test (T-3:30)
Pressurize liquid oxygen tank (T-2:55)
Begin retracting the gaseous oxygen vent arm (T-2:55)
Fuel cells to internal reactants (T-2:35)
Pressurize liquid hydrogen tank (T-1:57)
Deactivate bi-pod heaters (T-1:52)
Deactivate solid rocket booster joint heaters (T-0:50)
Orbiter transfers from ground to internal power (T-0:50 seconds)
Ground launch sequencer go for auto sequence start (T-0:31 seconds)
Booster gimbal profile (T-0:21 seconds)
Ignition of three space shuttle main engines (T-6.6 seconds)
Booster ignition and liftoff (T-0)
Preferred launch time: 6:03:10 p.m. Space Shuttle Status Updates are compiled by Interspace News from various sources and posted on a weekly basis unless operational circumstances dictate otherwise. Previous reports are available by selecting Manned from the left side menu bar and then clicking Mission Update Archive. |