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Astronauts to give Discovery full post-launch inspection BY WILLIAM HARWOOD STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS "SPACE PLACE" & USED WITH PERMISSION Posted: April 5, 2010 The Discovery astronauts are preparing for a lengthy inspection of the shuttle's nose cap and wing leading edge panels to make sure the critical heat shield components came through launch without any major problems.
The antenna problem will delay the heat shield assessment and could force the astronauts to conduct a final heat shield inspection while the shuttle is docked to the station instead of immediately after undocking, which is the usual practice. "We're still going to press ... with the flight-day-two inspection of the reinforced carbon carbon on the port and starboard (wing leading edge panels) and nose cap areas on Discovery," Flight Director Mike Sarafin said earlier Monday. "The crew's going to record all that information and then we'll transmit that over to station and downlink it from the station's Ku-band assets after we get docked. "Other information that goes up, like the timeline modifications we have every morning as part of the mission, those are going to have to be verbalized up to the crew. It'll take a little bit longer in the morning to get the plan rolling as we've modified it overnight." The heat shield inspection will be carried out by shuttle pilot James Dutton, Naoko Yamazaki and Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger using a 50-foot-long extension attached to the end of the shuttle's robot arm. The extension is called the Orbiter Boom Sensor System, or OBSS. "We've got several sensors on the end of a long boom that we now carry up on the starboard side of the shuttle," Dutton said in a NASA interview. "We'll take the shuttle arm over and grab that boom and unberth (it), then use those sensors to essentially scan the leading edge and the underside of each of the wings, as well as around the nose of the shuttle to make sure we don't have any damage and, if we do have damage, to assess how big that damage is. "It's a long day so we actually rotate through. There's three of us, Dottie, Naoko and myself, who will be the primary ones for operating the arm that day, and then (commander Alan Poindexter and Stephanie Wilson) will be sort of the backups where they will be standing back, using a couple of software programs we have to help watch clearances of the arm and the boom to the shuttle, and also to watch the configuration of the arm and make sure it's safe. "So we essentially go through a very scripted set of maneuvers and collect the data that the ground needs ... so that they can then do the analysis to clear our thermal protection system for entry." While the heat shield inspection is going on, astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Clay Anderson plan to check out the spacesuits they will use during three excursions when docked at the space station to swap out an ammonia coolant tank. Here is an updated timeline of today's activity (in EDT and mission elapsed time; includes revision A of the NASA television schedule): EDT........DD...HH...MM...EVENT 04/05 08:21 PM...00...14...00...Crew wakeup 09:56 PM...00...15...35...NC-2 rendezvous rocket firing 10:51 PM...00...16...30...Robot arm (SRMS) powerup 11:06 PM...00...16...45...SRMS checkout 11:21 PM...00...17...00...Ergometer setup 11:51 PM...00...17...30...SRMS unberths OBSS 11:51 PM...00...17...30...Spacesuit checkout preps 04/06 12:21 AM...00...18...00...Spacesuit checkout 01:06 AM...00...18...45...OBSS starboard wing survey 01:51 AM...00...19...30...Spacesuit prepped for transfer to station 03:01 AM...00...20...40...Crew meals begin 03:11 AM...00...20...50...OBSS nose cap survey 04:01 AM...00...21...40...OBSS port wing survey 05:01 AM...00...22...40...Middeck transfer preps 06:00 AM...00...23...39...Mission status briefing on NTV 06:16 AM...00...23...55...SRMS berths OBSS 07:21 AM...01...01...00...Centerline camera setup 07:26 AM...01...01...05...Rendezvous tools checkout 08:21 AM...01...02...00...OMS pod survey 09:32 AM...01...03...10...NC-3 rendezvous rocket firing 09:36 AM...01...03...15...Orbiter docking system ring extension 12:21 PM...01...06...00...Crew sleep begins 01:00 PM...01...08...39...Daily highlights reel on NTV 05:00 PM...01...10...39...Post-MMT briefing on NTV 08:21 PM...01...14...00...Crew wakeup Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: DESCRIPTION OF KU-BAND ANTENNA PROBLEM PLAY VIDEO: PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 2 ACTIVITIES PLAY VIDEO: NARRATED TOUR OF DISCOVERY'S PAYLOAD BAY PLAY VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO: SHUTTLE DISCOVERY BLASTS OFF! PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: GO INSIDE MISSION CONTROL DURING LAUNCH PLAY VIDEO: POST-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: VAB ROOF PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PRESS SITE PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PATRICK AFB PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD PERIMETER PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: BEACH TRACKER PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD CAMERA 070 PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD CAMERA 071 PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PLAYALINDA BEACH PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD FRONT CAMERA PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: KSC WEST TOWER PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS LEAVE CREW QUARTERS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: CREW FINISHES GETTING SUITED UP PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: NARRATED REVIEW OF SHUTTLE'S PREPARATIONS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: NARRATED REVIEW OF PAYLOADS' PREPARATIONS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: PREPARING AN EXTERNAL TANK FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE OF GANTRY ROLLING BACK FOR LAUNCH PLAY VIDEO: LAUNCH PAD'S SERVICE TOWER RETRACTED PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: PAYLOAD BAY DOORS CLOSED FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS INSPECT THE PAYLOAD BAY PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: STS-131 MISSION PREVIEW MOVIE PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH COMMANDER POINDEXTER PLAY VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH PILOT JIM DUTTON PLAY VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH RICK MASTRACCHIOPLAY VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH METCALF-LINDENBURGER PLAY VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH STEPHANIE WILSON PLAY VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH NAOKO YAMAZAKI PLAY VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH CLAY ANDERSON PLAY VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY VIDEO: COUNTDOWN STATUS AND WEATHER OUTLOOK PLAY VIDEO: PREVIEW OF DISCOVERY'S LAUNCH COUNTDOWN PLAY VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: FULL FLIGHT READINESS REVIEW NEWS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO: RECAP OF THE FLIGHT READINESS REVIEW PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: HELIUM VALVE NO CONSTRAINT TO LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: MANAGERS ASSESS ISSUES BEFORE FLIGHT PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: UPDATE ON PRE-LAUNCH PREPS AT PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: SPACEWALKING SUITS LOADED ABOARD PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH STS-131 PAYLOAD MANAGER PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH BOEING PAYLOAD MANAGER PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: PAYLOADS DELIVERED TO LAUNCH PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: TRANSPORT CANISTER ROTATED VERTICALLY PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: LEONARDO PLACED INTO THE TRANSPORTER PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: STATION'S NEW AMMONIA COOLANT TANK PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: LEONARDO HATCH CLOSED FOR FLIGHT PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: FILLING UP ONE OF THE SUPPLY RACKS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: CAN THE SHUTTLE PROGRAM AVOID LOOMING RETIREMENT? PLAY VIDEO: WHAT ABOUT ADDING ONE MORE SHUTTLE MISSION? PLAY VIDEO: FULL BRIEFING BY SHUTTLE AND STATION OFFICIALS PLAY VIDEO: THE STS-131 MISSION OVERVIEW PRESENTATIONS PLAY VIDEO: PREVIEW BRIEFING ON MISSION'S SPACEWALKS PLAY VIDEO: THE ASTRONAUTS' PRE-FLIGHT NEWS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO: SHUTTLE EVACUATION PRACTICE PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: CREW MODULE HATCH IS CLOSED PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS BOARD DISCOVERY PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: CREW BRIEFED ON EMERGENCY PROCEDURES PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: TEST-DRIVING AN EMERGENCY ARMORED TANK PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: NIGHTTIME APPROACHES IN TRAINING AIRCRAFT PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS CHAT WITH REPORTERS AT PAD 39A PLAY VIDEO: CREW ARRIVES FOR PRACTICE COUNTDOWN PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: GANTRY PLACED AROUND DISCOVERY PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: DISCOVERY REACHES PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: OVERNIGHT ROLLOUT BEGINS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: SHUTTLE HOISTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO TANK PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: CRANE ROTATES THE ORBITER VERTICALLY PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: DISCOVERY MOVES TO ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS VISIT THEIR SPACECRAFT PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: CREW GOES INSIDE LEONARDO MODULE PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: EXTERNAL TANK ATTACHED TO BOOSTERS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: FUEL TANK LIFTED INTO CHECKOUT CELL PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: EXTERNAL TANK ARRIVES AT SPACEPORT PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: DISCOVERY'S NOSE POD ATTACHED PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: INSTALLING DISCOVERY'S MAIN ENGINES PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: KSC'S SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINE SHOP PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: GASEOUS NITROGEN TANK REMOVED PLAY | HI-DEF SUBSCRIBE NOW |
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