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Defective computer delays Endeavour launch until after Feb. 9

The launch of the space shuttle Endeavour has been postponed until after Feb. 9 due to a faulty computer, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said Tuesday. NASA officials said they halted the countdown nine minutes before liftoff on Monday afternoon (early Tuesday Japan time) due to the computer trouble.

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-- Dee (T1Colt556@aol.com), February 01, 2000

Answers

Has there ever been such a prolonged flight delay due to computer problems. Sheesh, it's not like there's a defective O-ring that has to be replaced.

I gather that planes don't fall out of the sky due to a computer glitch but shuttles *could*?? And the problem couldn't be corrected in 2 or 3 days?

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), February 01, 2000.

Here's additional enlightening information on the computer failure:

JANUARY 31, 18:45 EST

Computer Problem Delays Endeavour By MARCIA DUNN

AP Aerospace Writer

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP)  Computer trouble and bad weather forced NASA on Monday to delay the launch of space shuttle Endeavour on a quest to create the most accurate map of Earth ever produced. Launch managers said they would try again Tuesday, but only if the computer problem can be solved quickly. Liftoff time would be 12:44 p.m.

``If we don't understand it to the point where we know we are safe ... then we will not launch,'' shuttle program manager Ron Dittemore said. ``We can always the take the time to change out the box.''

Dittemore said the launch would have to be delayed a week in order to replace the computerized unit, called a master events controller.

It is a critical component. Two identical controllers are on board, and both are needed to send signals to ignite the two solid rocket boosters at liftoff and to later separate the boosters and external fuel tank from the shuttle.

The mission is already four months late because of damaged wiring that had to be fixed on Endeavour and the other shuttles.

The computer trouble cropped up with less than a half-hour remaining in the countdown. Even without the problem, Endeavour could not have lifted off because of rain and thick, dark clouds.

NASA went all the way down to the nine-minute mark as engineers scrambled to understand why one of the two controllers sent a series of erroneous signals during a pre-launch check. The unit worked well when engineers repeated the test, but no one could explain the earlier malfunction.

``Sometimes these things happen, and we're concerned that we will never be able to duplicate'' the error, Dittemore said. ``That's our greatest fear, that we can't find it and don't understand it.''

Just the day before, NASA cleared Endeavour for launch following an exhaustive review of seals in its three engine fuel pumps.

A defective seal meant for the trash somehow ended up in a fuel pump used by Discovery during its Dec. 19 launch. NASA wanted to make sure no factory rejects were in Endeavour's pumps.

Because of missing paperwork, NASA could not verify that two of Endeavour's seals were certified for flight. Nevertheless, NASA proceeded toward a launch.

Endeavour is carrying radar that will survey most of the Earth's terrain. If all goes well, the result will be the most complete and accurate topographic map of the world.

Link:

http://wire.ap.org/?SLUG=SPACE%2dSHUTTLE

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), February 01, 2000.

Someone might want to correct me if I'm wrong (never happens) but IIRC these are PRE-PENTIUM machines (486-DX's if they were lucky).

C

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), February 01, 2000.

Early 80's computer stuff, right?

Now, how did they get all that stuff compliant?

I've long said that I don't think you'll ever see another shuttle go up. I could be wrong, maybe it's "you'll never see one come back down" ie: in one piece

Any astronauts feeling lucky?

I hate to predict doom, I don't want to see people die, but I really think they oughta send up a chimp for a time or two!

-- Electman (vrepair1@tampabay.rr.com), February 01, 2000.

Those silly doomer NASA guys! Remember they brought the last one down early for fear of Y2K. Fire them all and replace them with the Pollies. That would keep 'em busy and off this board.

-- Kyle (fordtbonly@aol.com), February 01, 2000.

When they remediated the computer for Y2K they took the easy way out by just telling it that it should always have 4 digits, so as soon as the countdown to liftoff clock rolled down from 10:00 to 9:59 it just shut down because it only had three digits.

It said ...

"Dave, you told me I should have 4 digits and now you took one away." "You shouldn't have done that Dave."

"I can longer function according to my programming Dave... goodbye. Click!" (lights out)

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), February 01, 2000.

Hawk, ROFLMAO!!! Thanks, Kyle.

-- Kyle (fordtbonly@aol.com), February 01, 2000.

Kyle, knowing NASA, it wouldn't suprise me! :-)

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), February 01, 2000.

What kind of computer problem does this sound like?...

Avionics failure to delay Endeavour launch at least a week

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (CNN) -- A problem with a critical avionics box has forced NASA to scrub Tuesday's planned launch of the Endeavour. The earliest the space shuttle can now launch is February 9th.

Bad weather first delayed the launch on Monday, but during the countdown a potential problem was discovered in one of two so-called Master Events Controllers. After eight hours of troubleshooting late into the night, NASA engineers were unable to make the glitch repeat. As a result, mission managers decided early Tuesday to scrub the launch and replace the 65-pound box.

It is "absolutely critical that they (the Master Events Controllers) work," said Ron Dittemore, manager of the shuttle program. Space shuttles are equipped with a pair of redundant Master Events Controllers. The microwave oven-sized avionics boxes relay critical commands from the shuttle's onboard computer system to jettison the twin solid rocket boosters and the external fuel tank.

NASA has a firm rule not launch if there are any concerns about a controller. The loss of one would leave the shuttle only one failure away from a so-called "Criticality One" failure, meaning the catastrophic loss of the vehicle and crew.

The suspect controller failed a routine health check with 20 minutes remaining in the countdown. During the check, computers send the avionics boxes a series of commands that prompted a reply. In this case the response was not what was expected.

"It's looking for a particular pattern of ones and zeroes. If it recognizes the right pattern, you pass the health check. And if it looks like the ones and zeros are in the wrong places, you fail the health check," Dittemore said.

The balky controller passed a second health check, but that was not enough to satisfy the launch team.

The change-out is relatively complex and will take at least a week. Technicians will have to disconnect the pyrotechnic devices linked to the controllers before removing the device.

The controller is located in the aft engine compartment of the shuttle. It can be accessed, but not easily, while the vehicle sits on the pad.

While the shuttle could be ready to fly in a week, the Cape Canaveral launch range may not. The launch of an unmanned Delta rocket may conflict with the shuttle timetable. Nevertheless, NASA hopes to secure a slot to fly on February 9th.

Endeavour's 14th mission is the 97th flight of a space shuttle. Using a sophisticated radar mapping device, Endeavour's six-person crew will spend 11 days in orbit, creating a detailed 3-D map of about 70-percent of the Earth's surface.

The Pentagon's National Imagery and Mapping Agency is NASA's primary customer on this $600 million mission. NIMA creates maps that are used to guide missiles, warplanes and ground troop deployments.

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), February 02, 2000.