STS-112 External Tank Shuttle Observation Camera Briefing
ET Shuttle Observation Camera STS-112 PAR
Background
Action assigned to JSC to evaluate potential locations for a Space Shuttle Vehicle Observation Camera
ET stand-alone camera located on the ET Cable Tray was recommended and approved
System Functional Description
– Camera system is designed to function independently of other Shuttle systems and provide real-time video of Shuttle launch through ET separation
– Activated during T-9 minute hold – Provides continuous Pre-launch and flight video (See page 4 for view)
- SSV leaving pad
- SRB separation
- ET/Orb separation
Camera system function considered non-critical
- – Camera system is a data gathering device
- – No flight control function performed
ET Shuttle Observation Camera STS-112 PAR
ET Shuttle Observation Camera STS-112 PAR
ET Shuttle Observation Camera STS-112 PAR
Safety Analysis Report (SAR)/Critical Items List (CIL) Summary
– SAR performed to identify potential safety hazards associated with the ET Camera System
- Considering the strong controls and verifications in place, the overall likelihood of occurrence of a catastrophic hazard remains “improbable”, and all hazard causes are ‘Controlled’
- All identified hazards have been found to be controlled by design, specification, tests and/or inspections and all safety issues are closed
- Shuttle Safety Review Panel (SSRP) SAR review completed 3/2000 – No Issues
– Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Critical Items List (CIL) updated to identify
- Criticality 1 failure modes and document retention rationale associated with the ET Camera System
- – Criticality 1 ET Camera Components
- — Antenna (4.2.14.1) (303 Stainless Steel)
- — Camera Fairing (4.3.126.1) ( Al 2219)
- – Criticality 1 Failure modes of the new CILs are structural failure and effects are due to debris potential to the Orbiter
- – CIL Retention Rationale presented to the SSRP 5/2002 and PRCB 6/2002 – No Issues
ET Shuttle Observation Camera STS-112 PAR
Flight Hardware Certification Summary
Test
Camera System Hardware Qualification Testing complete – No issues
- — System EMI Testing
- — Fairing, Antenna and Electronics Box vibration
- — RF and corona testing
- — Electronics Box proof and explosive environments testing
Camera System Hardware Acceptance Testing complete – No issues
- — Functional verification of components
- — Electronics box vibration and thermal cycling
- — Antenna pattern verification
- — Camera and electronics burn-in
Camera System Functional Testing at MAF complete – No Issues
- — Battery charge, camera function, transmitter function, dedfacing
ET Shuttle Observation Camera STS-112 PAR
Flight Hardware Certification Summary (continued)
– Analysis
— Stress Analysis on system components complete – No issues
- — Factor of safety greater than 2.0 for all new hardware
- — Incorporates Aerodynamic and Delta Atmospheric Pressure Loading, Random Vibration Effects, and
— Thermally Induced Stresses
— Thermal Analysis on Components Complete – No Issues
- —Temperatures were within acceptable limits and were incorporated into stress analysis
Demonstration
- – All work performed by certified technicians
- — Non-standard work validated at MAF and demonstrated at KSC
Inspection
- – System installation verified by Government Mandatory quality inspections
Certificate of Qualification approved (Reference COQ MMC-ET-TM06-127)
ET Shuttle Observation Camera STS-112 PAR
Rationale for Flight
– Camera system design fully qualified by test and analysis
- — Acceptance testing successfully performed
- — Functional test showed nominal performance
- —Integrated functional tests planned after STS-112 rollout
- — Stress Analysis ensures greater than 2.0 FS
- — Thermal analysis ensures temperature within acceptable limits
– Camera system installation verified by demonstration and inspection
- — Installation performed by certified technicians with validated and demonstrated processes
- — Camera system inspection performed during and after installation
S&MA Recommendation
– STS-112/ET-115 Shuttle Observation Camera is safe to fly
