STS-51J National Space Transportation System Mission Report

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JSC-20955

STS S1 -J

N a t i o o ; C 1 1 SpaceTransportation SystemMissi.on Repor t

December 1985



TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title

INTRODUCTION AND MISSION OBJECTIVES

MISSION SUMMARY

VEHICLE ASSESSMENT •

SOLID ROCKET BOOSTER •

EXTERNAL TANK

SPACE SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINE

MAIN PROPULSION SYSTEM •

ORBITER

Intermittent Power to SSME 3 LH2 Prevalve

Page

1

1

1

1

3

3

3

3

3



I NT R O D UC T I O N AN D M I S S IO N O B JE C T I VE S

The ST S 51-J N a t io n a l Space T r a nspor ta t i o n Syste m M issio n Repo r t co nt a i ns a

summ a ry of the O rbit e r, E T (exter n a l ta nk), SR B (sol id rocket bo ost er), andS S ME {Space Shutt l e ma i n e ng i n e)/MP S (m ai n propulsio n syste m) syste ms oper a ti o n

fo r the t w en ty-first Space Shutt le missio n. This was the first fli ght of the

Orbi te r v ehicle A tl a n tis (OV-104). Because of the securi ty classificat io n

assign ed t o this mission, this repo r t co nt a i ns no discussio n of any of the

classified m issio n act i v it i es o r accompl ishme nts.

Table I co nt a i ns the sequence of ev e n ts of majo r m issio n acti v i t ies that a r e

unclassified •. This repo r t also con t ai ns a discussio n of the most sig n ifican t

unclassified Orbi t er pr oble m. T abl e II co n ta i ns a l isti n g of a l l unclassifiedO r bi t er p ro bl e ms /a n om a li e s.

MI S S IO N S U M M AR Y

The ST S 51-J m issio n w as l aunched on Oct ober 3, 1985, at 273:15:15:30 G.m.t.,

fro m K S C w i th fiv e cr e w m e mbe rs. TI le cr ew m embe rs for this mission w er e

Ka r o l J. B obko, Co l., U. S. Ai r F o rce, Co m m ande r; R o n a ld J. Grabe, Lt. Co l.,

U. S. Ai r F o rce, Pi lo t; Da v id C. Hil m e rs, Maj., U. S. Ma r in e C o rp., and

Rober t C. S t e wa r t, Co l., U. S. Ar my, Mission Specia l ists; and Wil l ia m A. P a i1es,Maj., U. S. Ai r F o rce, Paylo ad Special ist.

The countdo wn phase w as compl e ted sat isfacto r ily. Al l syste m oper a t i ons w e r e

n o mi n a l duri n g the ascen t phase. SRB mo t o r pe rfo r m a nce was n e a r the predicted

l e v e ls a nd w el l w i thi n the a ll o w abl e e n v el opes. Exter n a l t a nk a nd M P S perfo r m-

a nce w as excel l e nt wi th M E C O (m a in en g i ne cutoff) nea r the predicted t im e.

The e n t ry phase syste m ope r a ti o ns w er e sa t isfacto ry w i th the O rbi t e r l a ndi n g o n

run w ay 2 3 at Edwa rds Ai r F orce B ase a t 280:17:00:08 G.m.t. on Oct obe r 7, 1985.The r o ll out dista nce w as 8056 ft. An i nspecti o n of the O rbit e r aft e r l andi~g

show ed T P S (ther m a l pro t ecti o n syste m) dam ag e t o the l eft i nbo a rd el e v o n a nd

the nose cap.



I. - STS 51-J SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

Parameter- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -G .m .t ., h r: mi n :s ec

APU Activation (1)

(2)

(3)

SRB HPU activation command (LH-A2)

MPS start command sequence (engine 3)

SRB ignition command from GPC (lift-off)

MPS throttle-down to 68-percent (engine 3)MPS throttle-down to 65-percent (engine 3)

Ma xi mum dyn am ic pre ssur e

MPS throttle-up to 104-percent (engine 3)

SRB separation command from GPC

MPS throttle-down from 3g acceleration (engine 3)

Main engine cutoff (MECa)

E xt er na l t an k se pa ra ti on

APU deactivation (1)

(2)(3)

Flight control system checkout APU 3 start

APU 3 shutdown

APU 1 activation

APU activation (2)(3)

E nt ry I nt er fa ce

E nd b la ck ou t

Terminal area energy management (TAEM)Main landing gear contact

Nose landing gear contact

Wheels stop

276:15:10:39

276:15:10:41

276:15:10:43

276:15:14:59.4

276:15:15:23.4

276:15:15:30

276:15:15:55.4276:15:16:00.9

276:15:16:19

276:15:16:24.57

276:15:17:34

276:15:23:05

276:15:24:02

276:15:24:20

276:15:30:21

276:15:30:22276:15:30:23

279:17:32:01

279:17:37:38

280:15:45:31

280: 16:17:30

I 280:16:17:37

I 280:16:30:21

I 280:16:48:12

I 280:16:53:53I 280:17:00:08

1280:17:00:15

I 280: 17:0 1:13



E XTE RN AL TA NK

All ET systems performed as expected. There was only one minor ET instrumen-

tation anomaly. There was no ice/frost buildup observed, and the vehicle wascl ea n a t l ift -o ff.

SPACE SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINE

The SSME performance data during prelaunch, mainstage, shutdown and propellant

dump were within specifications. Engine 1 HPTP (high pressure fuel turbopump)

line pressure oscillations were observed during mainstage. This pump will be

replaced before the next flight.

MAIN PROPULSION SYSTEM

The overall performance of the MPS was excellent. All pretanking purges were

performed satisfactorily. The L02 (liquid oxygen) and LH2 (liquid hydrogen)

pr opel la nt l oadi ng , pr epr essur iza tio n a nd pre ssur izat ion syst em s per fo rm ed a s

planned. Propellant loading was accomplished with no flow stopages.

Ascent performance of the MPS was normal and was within specification require-

ments throughout the flight. At approximately T + 235 seconds, the OrbiterME (main engine)-2 LH2 inlet temperature measurement failed; however, this had

no effect on the flight. Trajectory reconstruction indicated that the vehicle

specific impulse was near the MPS assessment tag values. One DTO (detailed test

objective), 40 percent MPS Vacuum Dump Test, was successfully performed.

ORBITER

All Orbiter systems operated very satisfactorily with only eleven anomalies

occuring during the flight. A discussion of the most significant problemis contained in the following paragraph, and a complete listing of all problems

and anomalies is contained in Table II.



UNC1. fFIED

I xo, I

J SC S TS 51-J P RO HL DI T RA CK IN G L IS T F OR 0\ -1 \;',A TL ,\ NT IS ~;L IG HT 1 OCT. 25, 1IJa5

TITLE. - - - - - - - - - - ~ - ~ - - - . - - - - - - - - - ~ - ~ . - - - ~ ~ . - - . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ - - ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~

R ES P. t fC R.I T1~iE, C;. 11.T. I CfltelENTS

1 SSt-!E3 L H2 P RE VA LV E:

A CLOSE REHOTE POWER CONTROLLER "A"

F AU LT Y " ON " I ND IC AT IO N ( V7 6X 41 26E ).

B OPEN pmJER CIRCUIT DID NOT OPERATE

P R OP E RL Y ( V4 IX I 30 3E ).

2 PORT MPH SHOULDER "A" PYRO

I NIT IA TO R C IR CU IT F AIL ED S ELF T ES T.

3 INSTRUMENTATION:

A I F UE L C EL L 1 H YD RO GE N F LO W

( V45R O I70A ) L O W.

B SSME 2 LH2 INLET TEMPERATURE

F A IL E D ( V41T I 201C ).

C APU 1 GAS GENERATOR VALVE MODULE

T EM PE RA TU RE F AI LE D ( V4 6T OI 71 A) .

PRELAUNCH

PRELAUNCH

PRELAUNCH

276:02:02

PRELAUNCH

T+4 ~lIN

P OS T H ECO

D FES FREON COOLANT LOOP 1 TEHPERATURE ASCENT

(VG3TI207) RESPONSE UNUSUAL AND FCL AND

2 TEi1PERATURE (V63TI407) LAGGED FCL O};'ORBIT1.

PRIOR TO LOADING, CLOSE FPC "A" liAS HLINKING

\ ffi ENP RE VAL VE l IA S OP EN . S US PE CT A VI ON ICS B AY 6

C UN MO N H IR IN G P RO BL EM . TiS AT KSC.

DURING SPECIAL ELECTRICAL TESTS, WI~N OPEN

COMMANDS "A" AND "B" ONLY \~ERE "Ol~" (V41K131IJX

AND 1320X). CHIT J-1810.

I

I

I

IS. ~!uR RAY

I D . P P.E VE TT

I

I

I S . I :U RR AY

I D . P RE VE TT

I

FAILED RESISTANCE TEST. H WAS GOOD. IF PIC "A" J. PECK

FIRES, GUILLOTINE WOULD CUT RMS WIRE BUNDLE.

POSTFLIGHT A CRUSHED WIRE WAS FOUND 2 INCHES FROM

T HE P YR O C ON NE CT OR .

DURING FUEL CELL PURGE, FLOW wAS 0.215 LBS/HR F. PLAUCHE

FOR 10 MINUTES. AT 276:04:18 Fe 1 I.,'ASACTIVATED

AND FLo\.JHAS NORMAL DURING tlISSlON. FLY AS IS.

INDICATED OFF SCALE HIGH. Rc'ioRAT KSC.

I l'4D IC AT EDO FF S CAL E L OW A ND T HE N WAS

INTERMITTENT. PREFLICHT WAIVER. SUSPECT L{)USE

WIRING. USED T2 (V46TOI72A) TO VERIFYTEHPERATURE. TiS AND REPAIR AT KSC.

D . P RE VE TT

D R 2 8F 007

W. SCOTT

AT T+2 }lIN 45 SEC FCL 1 TENP DROPPED TO 32 DEC F H. ROTTER

S ETT IN G o rr C c'i oWAND THEN RECOVERED. LAG

RESPONSE SIHILAR ON OV"099. 1NSULATlON or , R&FFCL 2 SENSOR.

U~CLASSIFIED

} .



UNCLASSIFIED

OCT. 25, 19R5

TITLE

JSC STS 51...J PROBLEH TRACKING LIST FOR OV-I04 ATLANTIS FLIGHT 1

COMMENTSI NO. I R ES P. ~l GR .I T IM E, C .H .T . I

4

5

6

7

8

9

E FUEL CELL 3 OXYGEN FLOW METER

( V45R 0 360) F A IL E D .

F APU 1 EXHAUST GAS TEHPERATURE 2

( V46T 0140A ) F A IL E D .

HSS 2 REGU LATOR PR ESSURE (VS8P 0204)

DECAYED.

O PERATIO NS RE CORDER 2 TRA CKS 7, 8AND 9 INTERHITTENT.

RIGHT OHS FUEL TOTAL QUANTITY

R EA DI NG O FF SE T (V 4J QS 33 IC ).

THER MAL PROT ECTION SYS TEM DAH AGE O N

LEFT INBOARD ELEVON LEADING EDGE AND

IN NOSE CAP AREA.

SSME 1 A~D 2 PITCH AND YAW ACTUATOR

S EC ON DA RY D EL TA P RE SS UR ES H IG H.

FLT DAY 4

ENTRY

FLT DAY 1

FLT DAY SJ AND 4

DEORBIT

LAUNCH

AND

Et-.'TRY

FLT DAY 4

PAYLOAD BAY CMIERA "B" HAS DIFFICULT I ON ORBIT

TO FOCUS AND CANERA "c" AZIHUTH AND

A ND E LE VA TI ON fA IL FD .

READ OFF SCALE LOW. FUEL CELL OPERATION NORt-tAL.

T/ S AT KSC VERIFIED FAILURE. IPR. REPAIR \:HEN

FC IS PULLED. FLY AS IS.

READ OFF SCALE tou. R&R AT KSC.

SUSPECT RELIEF VALVE DID NOT FULLY SEAT AFTER

ASCENT. SEE PROBLEM STS~8.17. T/S POSTFLIGHT

fO UN D O UT ?O F.S PE C L EA K.

OTHER TRACKS FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. SEE PROBLEHSTS"'SIF-IJ. DmlPED RECORDER AT DRYDEN AND KSC.

R&R AT KSC.

READ GOOD UNTIL NEAR END OF DEORBIT BURN, THEN IT

HAD ABOUT A 10 PERCENT HIGH OFFSET. RIGHT POD IS

FROH OV1"099. FOUND GLASS BROKEN IN PROBE BUT NO

LEAK. DEFER REPAIR UNTIL POD IS PULLED. FLY AS

IS.

GAP FILLER LOSS, SEVERE TILE EROSION AND AFT

CARRIE R PL ATE DAN AGE WIT H PR OBABLE ST RUCTUR AL

DAMAGE TO ELEVON. SEVERE TILE SLUMP WITHPOSSIBLE SUBSURFACE FLOW TO NOSE CAP STRUCTURE.

I NS TA LL ED D OU BL ER S O N E LE VO N S UB ~S TR UC TU RE .

AFTER SSME HYDRAULIC REPRESS, READ 300 TO 500

PSI. CONDITION EXISTED UNTIL APU 1 \ IA S S HU T D OWN

AFTER LANDING. SUSPECT ISO VALVE LEAK. T/S AT

KSC.

CAMERA "c" ONLY MOVED CLOCKWISE, THEN PITCH

SLOWED DOWN AND FINALLY THE AZ/EL STUCK. T/S AT

KSC DID ~OT REPEAT EITHER PROBLE~!. R&R AT KSC.

I JT '- V'I A " S T F T F I'

F . P LA UC HE

D R 2 8F 006

W. SCOTT

C AR 2 8F 002

J. WILTZ

D R 28F009

J. MELUGINHE N OOSS F

J. HOOP ER

J. SMITH

C AR 2 3F 009

J. WILTZ

C AR 2 8F 008

B . E HB RE Y

J SC E E615F

J SC E E616F



UNCLI 1 .: flED

JSC STS 51·J PROBLEM TRACKING LIST FUR OV·ll ~ ATLANTIS FLIGHT 1 OCT. 25. 1985

I NO. I TITLE I TINE. G.~I•T. I COHMENTS RESP. HGR.

10 IIATCHES:

A A IR LO CK H AT Cl I ",\ " TA PE RE D P IN D ID

~()T LATCI] It~ HATCIl OpeN l' :T]vL

O:i ORB TT CREW REPORTED LATCH ONLY FIT AROUND TO HULD PIN

1: \ SLOT \ .J I1EN DOOR WAS I N H AL F O PE t\ P O SI TI O~.

KSC FUUND PIN MISALIGNED 3/8 INCH.

N. JEVAS

UR 2 8F004

R SI DE HA TC Ii "T " H AN DL E D IF F lC UL T F OR

G ROU ~D CR E~ TO O PE RAT E.

PRELAUNCH

AND

POSTLANDING

F LIG HT CR E\.JR EP OR TED T HA T GR OU ND C RE W HA D

DIFFICULTY LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE HATCH.

POSTFLIGHT KSC FOUND ONE OF 4 "T" HANDLE TOOLS

DID NOT \VORK.

N. JEVAS

D R 2 8F005

11 LEFT DISPLAY DRIVER UNIT DATA GOOD

B IT TO GGL ED D URI NG E ~T RY.ENTRY FLAC TOGGLED ABOUT 25 TIMES. SEE R DDU PROBLEM

STS~51F·21 ON OV~099. T/S AT KSC. CHIT J-1831.

T. LEWIS

P R EP A RE D B Y :/ s/ RJ W

ROBERT J. WARD

10/25/85

DATE

A P PR O VE D B Y :/ s/ JE M

JOSEPH E. NECHELAY

10/25/85

DATE

UNCLASSIFIED

f"

STS-51J National Space Transportation System Mission Report

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