Offnominal

Visit Erin’s Blog. She’s a volunteer in the NASA-sponsored 12 week Bedrest study designed to investigate the effectiveness of zero-g exercise in preventing bone/muscle mass loss. She’s documenting this certainly surreal experience via her blog, which has apparently picked up a considerable amount of traffic since Nasawatch posted about it. Anyway, add to the traffic and say hi!

Sad news for private space wonks - the maiden flight of SpaceX’s Falcon I was apparently a failure. Not much info yet, but Elon Musk posted the following to spacex.com -

We had a successful liftoff and Falcon made it well clear of the launch pad, but unfortunately the vehicle was lost later in the first stage burn. More information will be posted once we have had time to analyze the problem.

Watching the onboard camera, it does look like there is something flapping in the breeze, as it were. I think they were using insulating blankets for thermal control before launch, which could cause some fairly serious aerodynamic issues if they didn’t separate properly. However, the vehicle appears to be fairly stable although it’s obviously performing some pitch and roll maneuvering before there is a very brief flash. The LV very suddenly departs controlled flight, impacting with the ocean seconds later. No one ever said rocket science was easy - here’s hoping they get a handle on it and get back in the saddle as soon as they can.

Happier news from the Red Planet tonight, as Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter returned its first test images today. Check out this detail image, at a 2.49m/pixel resolution. Good stuff, can’t wait for more!

Back to your regularly scheduled electronic musicks later this weekend…

Yesterday, KSC center director James Kennedy ordered a 2 hour safety stand down, halting work on Shuttle and ISS processing. From his videotaped message to center employees:

However, our past does not guarantee future success. In the last few weeks alone, KSC has experienced a rash of close calls and mishaps leading me to call for a two-hour Center-wide Safety Stand-down.
Let me give you some specific examples that led to this decision.
First, during an orbiter jack transfer, an unexpected movement of Endeavour’s nose landing gear occurred. This incident could have resulted in major damage to the Orbiter. Next, we inadvertently overpressurized Atlantis’ Water Coolant Loop, resulting in damage to the water accumulators.
Then, in less than a seven-day period, we had three more incidents. We damaged Discovery’s robotic arm while moving the bridge bucket, which will require removal and replacement of the arm.
Next, an X-ray film container was dropped onto a body flap tile on Endeavour, which will require repair. Finally, workers started a small fire during roof repairs to the VAB, the consequences of which could have been catastrophic.
These incidents were experienced by several different organizations on Center and there is no apparent common cause. However, I considered all a threat to successfully accomplishing our mission – the launching of astronauts and payloads into space.

Update: An anonymous KSC worker comments on this stand down over at Nasawatch:

All these happened before the launch date was moved to July. We have been pushed pretty hard by management to make the May date. A lot of people here have been working long hours for a long time. But the good news (according to our managers) has been that there is no schedule pressure.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Update 2 - From Chris in the comments:

The only real pressure I’ve ever seen at work is in the orbiter’s tires.

Priceless!

Have fun exploring the Red Planet! Now, what would be cool is to have links to some of the Spirit/Opportunity imagery directly from the maps.

In other news, word is that ET-119 has a faulty Liquid Oxygen Vent/Relief valve, on top of the Engine Cut Off sensor issue. I’m going to join the group that thinks that a July launch is pretty much a given at this point.

Update: Looks like the ultrasound results are in, and they found a 1.25″ crack in the RMS caused by a bridge bucket hit. Ouch. Florida Today says that if they launch in May (unlikely), they’ll use Endeavour’s arm. Otherwise, this arm should be back in time for a July launch.