XA/EVA Project Office Weekly Activity Report September 20, 2001
Service Module Debris Panels (SMDP) -UF-2
The decision was made at the MIOCB to keep the requirement to install the Service Module Debris Panel (SMDP) onto the Service Module. The EVA crew will install as many as time allows and leave any additional shields in a temporary stowage location until a later crew can complete the task. There is a change request in work to change priorities and have the SMDP installation be a higher priority than power data grapple fixture (PDGF) install, which would allow for more time for installation of the shields. The PDGF is required for STS-119/13A.1 assembly operations and installation would have to be rescheduled prior to that mission if it could not be accomplished on UF-2. Currently, negotiations are being held to determine who will be completing the EVA’s, Space Shuttle crew or Increment Crew. Current requirements have the Space Shuttle crew completing this task on EVA 1. Performance of the SMDP installation will require EVA crew training in the Hydrolab in Star City. Negotiations are under way to schedule this training.
Corrosion in Top Mounted Handrail Brackets
The EVA Project Office has approved interim FIAR closures exonerating all handrail brackets, including on-orbit units due to corrosion found during inspection. The destructive load test performed on the corroded handrail brackets provided results proving that these brackets were safe to use as-is since the load failure point of corroded brackets occurred at the same location as non-corroded handrail brackets. As a result, the Safety Alert JSC TWX-A-01-12 will be closed so that the installation of all EVA handrail assemblies can resume. The Engineering Directorate has begun shipping handrails to satisfy upcoming flight needs and will begin shipping the handrails returned from other NASA Centers.
STS-112/9A and STS-113/11A Joint Operations Panel (JOP)
On September 6, 2001, JOP met to discuss several EVA issues regarding 9A/11A. These issues center around the International Space Station Program’s decision to have crew rotation on 11A and the stowage impacts associated with UF-2, 9A and 11A. The EVA team is assessing a scenario to fly an extra-large hard upper torso (HUT) in the UF-2 middeck. The HUT would be used to reconfigure an EMU prior to 9A docking which would be used as a backup suit for the 9A EVA’s then as a prime suit for 9A Shuttle return contingencies. ISSP is evaluating the UF-2 middeck volume in order to support this option. SSP has expressed a concern about potentially using a suit built up on-orbit for 9A Shuttle return contingency. Space Shuttle Program and Mission Operations Directorates, Flight Director Office would like to re-evaluate this option and assess with the possibility of flying an additional EMU on UF-2 or 9A and eliminate the need to build up a suit on-orbit. The EVA Project Office will be briefing SSP and ISSP management on the EMU ORU capability at a special JPRCB on September 20, 2001.
Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Launch Package TIM #12
The EVA Project Office supported the recent JEM Launch Package TIM in Tsukuba, Japan, August 29 through September 5, 2001. During the week, several EVA meetings were conducted to review the JEM EVA Verification Matrix in preparation for the JEM Post-Qualification Review in December 2001. In addition, EVA splinter sessions were conducted to discuss preparations for the upcoming OPS #3 Neutral Buoyancy Test in November 2001; a review of the Centrifuge Accommodations Module EVA Requirements; and flight hardware inspections of the JEM Exposed Facility, the Exposed Section, and the Pressurized Section were performed. The next NASA-NASDA EVA Telecon is scheduled for October 2, 2001.
STS-110/8A S0 Truss Segment Hardware Review
The STS-110/8A EVA team and crew reviewed the S0 truss segment at the Kennedy Space Center on September 4-6, 2001. The major issues identified were with the truss shrouds and bolt lanyards. Based on input from the team, many of the shrouds are being modified to meet the EVA handling and hardware clearance requirements. Additionally, the lanyard design on the S0 bolts does not allow a free spin of the bolt. The lanyard could wrap around the bolt and break loose or wrap around the crew’s finger during bolt installation task. This is a safety issue and is being addressed by the 8A launch package team.
STS-110/8A Deployment of the Module-to-Truss Structure (MTS) Struts
The 8A EVA team participated in first portion of the 1-G deployment of the MTS struts at the Sonny Carter Training Facility. This first phase of the test was developed to demonstrate the following:
– The ability to deploy and soft dock the flight bipod strut groups using the S0 qualification truss segment.
– Access to EVA interfaces with a glove
– Fit check of the EVA tools
The final 20 percent of the deploy task required excessive force to mate to the Lab test article. The high force has been attributed to a less than optimal set up of the 1-G off-loading hardware. The EVA team has recommended repeating the test to ensure that the high forces were due to test set up. The initial input from the ISS program is that the possible benefits of the additional testing do not justify the cost. The EVA team determined testing on the KC-135 is not required.
Original signed by:
Stephen C. Doering
Deputy Manger
