STS-115 launch still scheduled for 11:41AM
Posted By RichC on September 8, 2006
The shuttle Atlantis sits on the pad this morning is set for liftoff from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 11:41 a.m. EDT this morning BUT comments being made at 10AM indicate that they are having some problems with the fuel shutoff circuit – the ECO sensors. That is considered a launch stopping concern and could postpone the launch until Saturday … stay tuned. Also another issue relating to possible water leaking into a cover which could lead to a debris problem was just discovered. (10:30AM)
The STS-115 crew is set to install the 17.5 ton P3/P4 truss on the International Space Station, activating a new set of solar arrays that will double the outpost’s ability to generate power from sunlight.
Update from NASA website -Sept. 8, 10:05 a.m. EDT
The hatch into Atlantis’ crew cabin has been locked and sealed for flight following the seating of all six STS-115 astronauts inside the ship. The crew members continue to flip switches and power up the orbiter’s systems as the countdown to an 11:41 a.m. launch marches on. The weather in the Kennedy Space Center area is pleasant with temperatures in the upper 70s and wispy clouds fanning across the sky.
Earlier in today’s countdown, launch controllers detected a problem with one of the four ECO sensors inside the hydrogen portion the space shuttle’s orange External Tank. The sensors monitor hydrogen levels inside of the tank and trigger the orbiter’s engines to shutdown when gas levels drop below a specified level. NASA managers are currently meeting to examine the issue and determine if Atlantis is capable of safely launching.
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