Waiting for Discovery...
Oct. 10th, 2000 10:37 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alexpgpLast Thursday, it was a squirrely pyro bolt on the external tank. That pushed the launch of STS-92 (a.k.a., ISS flight 3A) to Friday. On Friday, a malfunctioning valve in the propulsion system caused a delay to Monday. On Monday, it was high winds that prevented fueling of Discovery.
Today, everything seemed ready to go when a sharp-eyed inspection team found a "pip pin" wedged between the external tank and the Shuttle. The pin weighs about half a pound, but had it dislodged during launch, it might have bounced after falling 40 feet...right back up into one of the Shuttle main engines, and that would have ruined everybody's day.
In the meantime, the incredibly cheap tickets I found to go visit my folks up North are looking less sure by the day. As it is, had Discovery launched today, my so-called "vacation" would have started on the last day of mission support. My problem with all these delays is that I'm working as a backup on this support team, and the team is getting stretched thinner by the minute.
I may have to "abort" my vacation. And that will not make me a happy camper.
Cheers...
Today, everything seemed ready to go when a sharp-eyed inspection team found a "pip pin" wedged between the external tank and the Shuttle. The pin weighs about half a pound, but had it dislodged during launch, it might have bounced after falling 40 feet...right back up into one of the Shuttle main engines, and that would have ruined everybody's day.
In the meantime, the incredibly cheap tickets I found to go visit my folks up North are looking less sure by the day. As it is, had Discovery launched today, my so-called "vacation" would have started on the last day of mission support. My problem with all these delays is that I'm working as a backup on this support team, and the team is getting stretched thinner by the minute.
I may have to "abort" my vacation. And that will not make me a happy camper.
Cheers...
