NASA plans to test a couple of helium system regulators for space shuttle Discovery late this week, following an anomaly that occurred over the weekend in preparation for next month’s launch of STS-131.
Though Discovery’s aft fuel propellant tanks were being vented in preparation for fuel loading at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida, pressure in the Right Reaction Control System (RRCS) fuel helium tank unexpectedly decreased in unison with the Right Reaction Control System fuel propellant tank when it was vented, indicating that no less than 1 of the 2 parallel helium isolation valves is leaking or stuck open, as said by NASA.
A primary as well as secondary helium system regulator will be tested to verify their function, according to NASA. Placed “downstream” of the isolation valves, the regulators help to uphold helium pressure to the fuel tank. Determining the health of the regulators is a key to the decision whether it is secure to launch with the isolation valves behaving erratically.
Engineers will check the system by bringing it to flight pressure and monitoring its performance and the test can take place once a ground support equipment test panel has been calibrated.
Shuttle managers met at Kennedy Space Center March 15 to discuss the problem and whether to bring the STS-131 payload to the launch pad on March 17 as scheduled. Launch date is targeted for April 5, with some days of contingency to spare.
Though Discovery’s aft fuel propellant tanks were being vented in preparation for fuel loading at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida, pressure in the Right Reaction Control System (RRCS) fuel helium tank unexpectedly decreased in unison with the Right Reaction Control System fuel propellant tank when it was vented, indicating that no less than 1 of the 2 parallel helium isolation valves is leaking or stuck open, as said by NASA.
A primary as well as secondary helium system regulator will be tested to verify their function, according to NASA. Placed “downstream” of the isolation valves, the regulators help to uphold helium pressure to the fuel tank. Determining the health of the regulators is a key to the decision whether it is secure to launch with the isolation valves behaving erratically.
Engineers will check the system by bringing it to flight pressure and monitoring its performance and the test can take place once a ground support equipment test panel has been calibrated.
Shuttle managers met at Kennedy Space Center March 15 to discuss the problem and whether to bring the STS-131 payload to the launch pad on March 17 as scheduled. Launch date is targeted for April 5, with some days of contingency to spare.
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