STS-27 wth added tile inspection

[Phixit]

Hey All,

Just landed from the troublesome, but successful STS-27. As always I read up on the mission before launch, but this one had very little info, being classified and all. One thing that did strike me (pardon the pun) was the tile damage on lift off. According to wikipedia and Mike Mullane's book they did a tile inspection of the starboard side using the RMS arm. Read about it on page 280 in "Riding Rockets" on Google books (http://tinyurl.com/ygauy68). So I decided to add it.

I went through the mission launch and on orbit procedures like normal and then before progressing to deorbit I did a tile check. I powered up the RMS again and swung it over the starboard side of the payload bay, right behind the flight deck area. It was tough to get it positioned without the outside view, but using camera "D" you can see how much distance you have before hitting the crew area. Don't want to cause more damage!

After getting the arm down there I rolled the end effector 180 degrees and pitched towards the shuttle. It took some adjustments but I finally got the troublesome tiles in frame (make sure to have the RMS spotlight on). From there I could yaw the end effector back and forth to cover from the nose to the leading edge of the wing. After being assured from Mission Control that we were "go" I stowed the rms and proceeded with deorbit. I'll admit after reading about the tile damage and going through the rms check I was almost nervous on reentry! But we had an uneventful landing at Edwards and the end to another great mission!

I have included pictures from the tile check and the joint angles I used. I forgot to write down the position and attitude, but if anyone wants it I can go back and get it.

-Rob

PS: Thanks for a great sim! I'm having lots of fun going through and learning about the missions. I was either too young or not interested enough when they happen.   

YAW: -120.5
SHOULDER: 015.6
ELBOW: -089.0
WRIST PITCH: -113.6
WRIST YAW: 000.0
WRIST ROLL: -179.9


Outside View (Click for larger image)


Monitor View (Click for larger image)

[uri_ba]

great work

[Admin]

VERY NICE! I guess that this can be put in the printed checklists as an optional action, while we ponder upon its possible implementation sometimes in the future

/Admin

[Phixit]

VERY NICE! I guess that this can be put in the printed checklists as an optional action, while we ponder upon its possible implementation sometimes in the future

/Admin

Thanks, that would be awesome! I just wish I could find pictures or something that shows how they positioned the arm. I did find these two frightening images that helps with the placement:

http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts119/090327sts27/damageplotfull.jpg
http://galaxywire.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/sts-27_side-1.jpg

Anyway, I'll probably go back and get the position and attitude info. Quick question: Can anyone tell me what joint the position info on the checklists is? I know it is a wrist joint, but which one?

Thanks a lot guys!

-Rob

[Spacewalker]

... I just wish I could find pictures or something that shows how they positioned the arm. ...

The real RMS procedures for exterior surveys can be found in section 6 of NASA's Generic "PDRS Operations Checklist": http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/381565main_PDRS_G_F_9.pdf
I think that in the case of STS-27 something like surveys E, F and G in this section 6 were executed. (This is what I did, when I replayed this mission the way you did... )

[Phixit]

The real RMS procedures for exterior surveys can be found in section 6 of NASA's Generic "PDRS Operations Checklist": http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/381565main_PDRS_G_F_9.pdf
I think that in the case of STS-27 something like surveys E, F and G in this section 6 were executed. (This is what I did, when I replayed this mission the way you did... )

Spacewalker,

Thank you! That is an awesome resource. Just quickly looking at survey E it looks like I was in the right ball park for starting position. If I do this mission again I will definitely be using this resource. Thanks again.

-Rob

[Cthulhus]

Thank you for the informations and details about the "procedure" the RMS data are very useful for those like me want to make this procedure.

I think that the STS 27 should me upgraded with that inspection?