STS-122 delayed further as NASA removes faulty connector

William Atkins
Friday, 28 December 2007 19:31

Science - Space

Space shuttle program manager Wayne Hale announced Thursday, December 27, 2007, that NASA engineers will remove parts of a problematic fuel tank connector onboard Atlantis. Further delay to the STS-122 mission will occur.        

The analysis and repair of these parts will delay the STS-122 launch past its scheduled launch of January 10, 2008.

Two previous attempts to launch the STS-122 mission were scrapped when various hydrogen tank sensors failed to show accurate readings. Although not primary systems of the shuttle, these backup sensors, part of the emergency engine cutoff system, are vital in order to assure a safe launch of the shuttle.

Certain external components of an electrical socket on the external fuel tank of space shuttle Atlantis, for mission STS-122, will be removed. The repair process, which will be performed at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, will begin on Saturday, December 29.

Analysis of the removed parts will give NASA a better idea as to how much repairs will be needed. Thus, will decide when the next scheduled launch will be of mission STS-122.

Initial speculation would place the next launch anywhere from a few days to a few weeks past the January 10th date.

During recent inspections of the fuel tank sensors, a two-sided connector, called a “pass through” connector, was deemed the cause of the faulty sensors for the liquid hydrogen tank within the external tank of the shuttle. The pass-through connector, consisting of internal and external electrical sockets, sends electrical signals between the internal electrical connections of the external tank and the orbiter’s engine compartment, specifically its avionics bay.

There is still the chance that problems reside inside the external tank. Internal wires could be reduced in size when the extremely cold liquid hydrogen is pumped into the hydrogen tanks. The temperatures, which go down to -423 degrees Fahrenheit, could cause condensation around the wires, and cause electrical signals to be blocked.

If this is the case, the shuttle will have to be rolled back into the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at the Kennedy Space Center for more extensive repairs. Such repairs will delay the launch even further