DOCSLIB.ORG

Reminiscences of the Mullard Space Science Laboratory

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Reminiscences of the Mullard Space Science Laboratory REMINISCENCES OF THE MULLARD SPACE SCIENCE LABORATORY TO 1991 DR E. B. DORLING i ii PROLOGUE “There is properly no history - only biography” - Emerson On the 4th of December 1954 the SS Queen Mary left Pier 90 in the New York docks for Southampton carrying a full complement of passengers, most of whom, I imagine, were looking forward to being home for Christmas. Amongst them my wife, Clare, and I were glad to be on the last leg of our way back from a less-than-satisfactory stay of fifteen months in Vancouver, British Columbia. What awaited us in the New Year was still unsure. I was already thirty. I had come out of the Army in Germany in 1947 to go to Bristol to read physics. After six years there, and without a clear idea of what to do next, I had felt that to travel was better than to arrive, and had taken a research fellowship at the university in Vancouver. I quickly realised my mistake. For my wife, a qualified teacher, Vancouver was not in welcoming mood—it had too many teachers. Try as she might she could find no work. As an experimentalist I had been expecting as a matter of course to join a group with some on-going research effort, but the “group” consisted of one member of staff— no research in progress, one large, empty, underground laboratory, one small annexe. I was free to do what I wished, but with few resources. I made the best of a bad job, found some apparatus for the development of infrared detectors that had been abandoned by an earlier visiting Englishman, and did what I could. Vancouver, in the mid-1950s, had no indigenous light-engineering industry, nothing in the electronics field. The economy was centred on timber, agriculture, and various ores mined up the coast or in the interior. Scientific equipment—if there was money with which to buy it—came from the UK or from the States. In either case it took months to arrive. I stayed for as long as seemed proper under the circumstances and then came home. University posts in this country were hard to come by, and badly paid. At Keele, the first new post-war university, I was offered an assistant lectureship at £650p.a. Had I taken it, my wife and I would have been required to live on the campus in staff quarters for which the rent was, I seem to remember, £500p.a. At Nottingham I asked for a lectureship, but that was not on offer either. Whilst my search went on I taught physics at a small evangelical public school, and in many ways enjoyed the experience. The headmaster was keen to have me stay on, but the head of physics was less encouraging. I was not there to teach physics, he explained, but to use physics or any other subject as a medium for supplying the boys with a Christian education. It would have meant a radical change of heart on my part. An advertisement caught my eye—the Civil Service Commission was inviting applications from physicists no older than 31 for entry into established posts. With my 31st birthday only months away I saw one of the largest employers of physicists soon to close its doors on me. I applied, and in July was appointed as a senior scientific officer. Once appointed, it was a matter of finding a home, one with a suitable vacancy. To me the obvious place was the Radar Research Establishment at Malvern with research interests closest to mine, particularly in the infrared field, but I was politely turned away; I had no electronics experience. Next it was Farnborough, the Royal Aircraft Establishment, and in particular the Guided Weapons Department. I met the head of the Guidance Division, but again the problem was my lack of electronics experience. I was about to take my leave when M.O. Robins, the head of Control Division, looked in for a quick word and was introduced to me. Did he have any suitable vacancy, he was asked. He couldn‟t think of one and left. I believe I was on my way to the door, resigned to having drawn a blank yet again, when Robins reappeared. „The Gassiot rocket project that we are about to start on—we shall need someone to liaise with the universities. Would that interest you?‟ I had read a Royal Society announcement in the newspapers a day or so before describing the plans for a high-altitude rocket programme, so it was fresh in my mind. I seized the offer. On September 12th 1955 therefore I became a member of Robins‟ Control Division, one of a small team in it newly headed by J.F. Hazell, charged with the task of designing and building the so-called Gassiot rocket. I knew nothing of the field and had a great deal to learn, but it looked most interesting. As it turned out, I was to spend the whole of my working life in it, mostly in a way I could not possibly foresee. i ii CONTENTS 1. THE BEGINNINGS OF SPACE SCIENCE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ........................................................... 1 THE BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 PLANNING THE RESEARCH PROGRAMME ...................................................................................................................................................... 2 SKYLARK ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 US ROCKET DEVELOPMENTS ............................................................................................................................................................................. 5 2. THE START OF SPACE SCIENCE AT UCL ......................................................................................................... 9 RESEARCH USING SKYLARK .............................................................................................................................................................................. 9 COOPERATION WITH NASA .............................................................................................................................................................................. 12 3. ARIEL 1 .................................................................................................................................................................. 15 4. THE MOVE TO HOLMBURY ST MARY ........................................................................................................... 25 FINDING A HOME ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 25 HOLMBURY HOUSE ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 25 I JOIN UCL .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 26 CONVERSIONS & ADAPTIONS .......................................................................................................................................................................... 26 A FINANCIAL CRISIS ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 28 WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE ...................................................................................................................................................................... 30 THE FIRST NOEL ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 31 BUILDING WORKS BEGIN .................................................................................................................................................................................. 31 THE FIRST FIRE ALARM ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 32 WATER AGAIN ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 32 THE FINAL MOVES FROM GOWER STREET .................................................................................................................................................. 33 THE OPENING ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 34 WORKSHOP ORGANISATION ............................................................................................................................................................................ 35 COMPUTING ARRANGEMENTS ........................................................................................................................................................................ 35 WE GET A CLEAN ROOM .................................................................................................................................................................................... 38 THE DIFFICULTY OF FORECASTING THE FUTURE
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Spirited Seafarers WANDERLUST / Malay Archipelago
    ISSUE 128 MAR 2018 Sail through my pages but keep me on this ship. Read me online. AirAsia Inflight Magazine The Bajau Laut Spirited Seafarers WANDERLUST / Malay Archipelago Nomads of WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY: Claudio Sieber/ theclaudiosieberphotography.com Sulu Sea Living on the water, moving from island to island, and sometimes settling along the coastal areas of the Malay Archipelago (though concentrated in the area of the Sulu Sea), the seafaring Bajau Laut live a simple life in some of the most enchanting places on earth. The charming Bajau Laut wooden stilt huts can accommodate anywhere between a family of four or five to a small community encompassing about 30 roommates. These stilt houses, which usually take three weeks to erect, are equipped with only basic necessities. 1. Pictured here is Nalu, a Bajau Laut who migrated from the Philippines 26 years ago. A self- taught carpenter, he can easily design a fishing boat in about a week all by himself, without even an initial sketch to go by. The traditional craft of boat building is passed down from generation to generation. 2. A young Bajau Laut boy flies a home-made kite in the stilt village of Bangau-Bangau, Semporna, Sabah. The simple kite is constructed from a plastic bottle, plastic material, bamboo string and a rope. 3. A stunning vista enjoyed by the Bajau Laut who roam the seas. As a result of comprehensive conservation efforts by Sabah Parks authorities, the reefs at Tun Sakaran Marine Park remain pristine, allowing marine life to flourish. Pictured here is Pulau 1 Bodgaya (Bodgaya Island), the largest among the eight islands within the marine park, which is a prime site for snorkelling 03 and hiking.
    [Show full text]
  • Ira Sprague Bowen Papers, 1940-1973
    http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf2p300278 No online items Inventory of the Ira Sprague Bowen Papers, 1940-1973 Processed by Ronald S. Brashear; machine-readable finding aid created by Gabriela A. Montoya Manuscripts Department The Huntington Library 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, California 91108 Phone: (626) 405-2203 Fax: (626) 449-5720 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.huntington.org/huntingtonlibrary.aspx?id=554 © 1998 The Huntington Library. All rights reserved. Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington Collection Inventory of the Ira Sprague 1 Bowen Papers, 1940-1973 Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington Collection Inventory of the Ira Sprague Bowen Paper, 1940-1973 The Huntington Library San Marino, California Contact Information Manuscripts Department The Huntington Library 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, California 91108 Phone: (626) 405-2203 Fax: (626) 449-5720 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.huntington.org/huntingtonlibrary.aspx?id=554 Processed by: Ronald S. Brashear Encoded by: Gabriela A. Montoya © 1998 The Huntington Library. All rights reserved. Descriptive Summary Title: Ira Sprague Bowen Papers, Date (inclusive): 1940-1973 Creator: Bowen, Ira Sprague Extent: Approximately 29,000 pieces in 88 boxes Repository: The Huntington Library San Marino, California 91108 Language: English. Provenance Placed on permanent deposit in the Huntington Library by the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington Collection. This was done in 1989 as part of a letter of agreement (dated November 5, 1987) between the Huntington and the Carnegie Observatories. The papers have yet to be officially accessioned. Cataloging of the papers was completed in 1989 prior to their transfer to the Huntington.
    [Show full text]
  • Technical Details of the Elliott 152 and 153
    Appendix 1 Technical Details of the Elliott 152 and 153 Introduction The Elliott 152 computer was part of the Admiralty’s MRS5 (medium range system 5) naval gunnery project, described in Chap. 2. The Elliott 153 computer, also known as the D/F (direction-finding) computer, was built for GCHQ and the Admiralty as described in Chap. 3. The information in this appendix is intended to supplement the overall descriptions of the machines as given in Chaps. 2 and 3. A1.1 The Elliott 152 Work on the MRS5 contract at Borehamwood began in October 1946 and was essen- tially finished in 1950. Novel target-tracking radar was at the heart of the project, the radar being synchronized to the computer’s clock. In his enthusiasm for perfecting the radar technology, John Coales seems to have spent little time on what we would now call an overall systems design. When Harry Carpenter joined the staff of the Computing Division at Borehamwood on 1 January 1949, he recalls that nobody had yet defined the way in which the control program, running on the 152 computer, would interface with guns and radar. Furthermore, nobody yet appeared to be working on the computational algorithms necessary for three-dimensional trajectory predic- tion. As for the guns that the MRS5 system was intended to control, not even the basic ballistics parameters seemed to be known with any accuracy at Borehamwood [1, 2]. A1.1.1 Communication and Data-Rate The physical separation, between radar in the Borehamwood car park and digital computer in the laboratory, necessitated an interconnecting cable of about 150 m in length.
    [Show full text]
  • Weather Reporting -- Volume C2
    WEATHER REPORTING MESSAGES MÉTÉOROLOGIQUES МЕТЕОРОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ СООБЩЕНИЯ INFORMES METEOROLOGICOS VOLUME/TOM/VOLUMEN C2 TRANSMISSION PROGRAMMES PROGRAMMES DE TRANSMISSION ЛPOГPAMMЬI ЛEPEДY PROGRAMAS DE TRANSMISIÓN 2012 Weather y Climate y Water World Meteorological Organization Organisation météorologique mondiale Всемирная Метеорологическая Организация Organización Meteorológica Mundial WMO/OMM/BMO No. 9 WEATHER REPORTING MESSAGES MÉTÉOROLOGIQUES МЕТЕОРОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ СООБЩЕНИЯ INFORMES METEOROLOGICOS VOLUME/TOM/VOLUMEN C2 TRANSMISSION PROGRAMMES PROGRAMMES DE TRANSMISSION ЛPOГPAMMЬI ЛEPEДY PROGRAMAS DE TRANSMISIÓN 2012 Edition World Meteorological Organization Organisation météorologique mondiale Всемирная Метеорологическая Организация Organización Meteorológica Mundial WMO/OMM/BMO No. 9 COPYRIGHT © World Meteorological Organization © Organisation météorologique mondiale The right of publication in print, electronic and any other L’OMM se réserve le droit de publication en version imprimée form and in any language is reserved by WMO. Short extracts ou électronique ou sous toute autre forme et dans n’importe from WMO publications may be reproduced without quelle langue. De courts extraits des publications de l’OMM authorization, provided that the complete source is clearly peuvent être reproduits sans autorisation, pour autant que la indicated. Editorial correspondence and requests to publish, source complète soit clairement indiquée. La correspondance reproduce or translate this publication in part or in whole relative au contenu rédactionnel
    [Show full text]
  • APS Far West Section 2018 Newsletter
    APS Far West Section 2018 Newsletter Letter from the Chairs By Hendrik Ohldag, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (chair, picture) Andreas Bill, California State University Long Beach (past chair) Dear Fellow APS Member, The Far West Section (FWS) of the American Physical Society aims at bringing together physicists active in academia, industry and research institutions. We welcome all who have a background in, or a link to physics and wish to share their experience and knowledge, or simply wish to stay in touch with colleagues and the advances in the field. Most of our members live in California, Hawaii or Nevada, but the section is open to all who are APS members. Though all can be member of the FWS for free(!), not all are members. If you are an APS member and read these lines you should also be a section member. If not yet, just send a short email to [email protected] to express your interest in joining the Far West Section, or go online using your APS membership credentials (click on “Membership”). Please do so now, and read the rest of the letter after… Physics has undergone many changes in recent years and those in our Far West Section region have played a major role in shaping the physics landscape. Not only have we advanced knowledge in key areas of fundamental research, teaching and industry, but some of our members have also contributed in important ways to the APS itself. The fact that physics has changed so much also means that many more job opportunities are available to physics students.
    [Show full text]
  • Developments in Observations and Theory for Solar Cycle 22 Laurel, Maryland, 8-9 June 1989
    MA Workshop #2: Developments in Observations and Theory for Solar Cycle 22 Laurel, Maryland, 8-9 June 1989 {i<?',.., '- i _'-_'? ; ._,/ , _t MAX Workshop #2: Developments in Observations and Theory for Solar Cycle 22 Laurel, Maryland, 8-9 June 1989 Edited by Robert M. Winglee University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado Brian R. Dennis NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland Cover An eruptive prominence associated with the X1.6 3B flare of June 20, 1989. This event and its coronal mass ejection were well observed during the first Max '91 Campaign. This digital H-alpha image was obtained at 15:04 UT ( 4 minutes before the peak of the event in soft X-rays) by the Holloman Solar Observatory of the USAF SOON system. TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface ......................... vii Group Summaries High Energy Flare Physics Group Summary .......... ld] J. M. Ryan and J. D. Kurfess Magnetograph Group Summary ............... 17d_ H. P. Jones Theory and Modeling Group ................ 27_ G. D. Holman Summary of Observations of AR 5395 • . ° • . , , . ° , . 31c_z?:? j /I D. M. Zarro and R. M. Winglee Invited Reviews Scientific Objectives of Solar Gamma-Ray Observations ..... 33_;_/ R. E. Lingenfelter The Gamma-Ray Observatory: An Overview ......... D. A. Kniffen When and Where to Look to Observe Major Solar Flares .... 46_ T. Bai Access to MAX'91 Information via Computer Networks .... 6_. A. L. Kiplinger -7 High Energy Flare Physics Capabilities of GRO/OSSE for Observing Solar Flares . J. D. Kurfess, W. N. Johnson, G. H. Share, S. M. Matz and R. J. Murphy The Solar Gamma Ray and Neutron Capabilities of COMPTEL on the Gamma Ray Observatory ............
    [Show full text]
  • Les Fusées-Sondes De Sud-Aviation
    Les fusées-sondes de Sud-Aviation Jean-Jacques Serra Commission Histoire de la 3AF Origines : Centre national d'études des télécommunications (CNET) • Loi du 4 mai 1944, validée le 29 janvier 1945 • Demandes d'études - ministères (Guerre, Air, Marine), - Radiodiffusion française, - Comité d’action scientifique de la Défense nationale,... • Etudes sur la propagation radioélectrique plusieurs départements (Tubes et hyperfréquence, Transmission, Laboratoire national de radioélectricité) • Recherches sur la troposphère et sur l’ionosphère Programme spatial du CNET lancé en 1957 selon deux directions : • participation au lancement de fusées-sondes pour l’exploration de la haute atmosphère • traitement scientifique des données fournies par les signaux émis par les satellites artificiels Samedis de l'Histoire de la 3AF Les fusées-sondes de Sud Aviation 15/10/2011 - 2 Contexte : Fusées-sondes existantes Fusées du CASDN pour l'AGI : • Véronique AGI : dérivée des Véronique N et NA (1952-1954) 60 kg à 210 km d'altitude • Monica IV et V : dérivées des Monica I à III (1955-1956) 15 kg à 80 km ou 140 km d'altitude Fusées de l'ONERA utilisées par le CEA : • Daniel : dérivé d'Ardaltex (1957-1959) 15 kg à 125 km d'altitude • Antarès : dérivé de l'engin d'essais de rentrée (1959-1961) 35 kg à 280 km d'altitude Samedis de l'Histoire de la 3AF Les fusées-sondes de Sud Aviation 15/10/2011 - 3 Définition des besoins du CNET Envoi d'une charge utile de 32 kg à 80 km, 120 km, 400 km et 1000 km d'altitude • fusées commandées à Sud Aviation • unité mobile construite
    [Show full text]
  • Information Technology 3 and 4/1998. Emerging
    OCCASION This publication has been made available to the public on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation. DISCLAIMER This document has been produced without formal United Nations editing. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries, or its economic system or degree of development. Designations such as “developed”, “industrialized” and “developing” are intended for statistical convenience and do not necessarily express a judgment about the stage reached by a particular country or area in the development process. Mention of firm names or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement by UNIDO. FAIR USE POLICY Any part of this publication may be quoted and referenced for educational and research purposes without additional permission from UNIDO. However, those who make use of quoting and referencing this publication are requested to follow the Fair Use Policy of giving due credit to UNIDO. CONTACT Please contact [email protected] for further information concerning UNIDO publications. For more information about UNIDO, please visit us at www.unido.org UNITED NATIONS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION Vienna International Centre, P.O. Box 300, 1400 Vienna, Austria Tel: (+43-1) 26026-0 · www.unido.org · [email protected] EMERGING TECHNOLOGY SERIES 3 and 4/1998 Information Technology UNITED NATIONS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION Vienna, 2000 EMERGING TO OUR READERS TECHNOLOGY SERIES Of special interest in this issue of Emerging Technology Series: Information T~chn~~ogy is the focus on a meeting that took INFORMATION place from 2n to 4 November 1998, in Bangalore, India.
    [Show full text]
  • Spacecraft System Failures and Anomalies Attributed to the Natural Space Environment
    NASA Reference Publication 1390 - j Spacecraft System Failures and Anomalies Attributed to the Natural Space Environment K.L. Bedingfield, R.D. Leach, and M.B. Alexander, Editor August 1996 NASA Reference Publication 1390 Spacecraft System Failures and Anomalies Attributed to the Natural Space Environment K.L. Bedingfield Universities Space Research Association • Huntsville, Alabama R.D. Leach Computer Sciences Corporation • Huntsville, Alabama M.B. Alexander, Editor Marshall Space Flight Center • MSFC, Alabama National Aeronautics and Space Administration Marshall Space Flight Center ° MSFC, Alabama 35812 August 1996 PREFACE The effects of the natural space environment on spacecraft design, development, and operation are the topic of a series of NASA Reference Publications currently being developed by the Electromagnetics and Aerospace Environments Branch, Systems Analysis and Integration Laboratory, Marshall Space Flight Center. This primer provides an overview of seven major areas of the natural space environment including brief definitions, related programmatic issues, and effects on various spacecraft subsystems. The primary focus is to present more than 100 case histories of spacecraft failures and anomalies documented from 1974 through 1994 attributed to the natural space environment. A better understanding of the natural space environment and its effects will enable spacecraft designers and managers to more effectively minimize program risks and costs, optimize design quality, and achieve mission objectives. .o° 111 TABLE OF CONTENTS
    [Show full text]
  • Space Almanac 2007
    2007 Space Almanac The US military space operation in facts and figures. Compiled by Tamar A. Mehuron, Associate Editor, and the staff of Air Force Magazine 74 AIR FORCE Magazine / August 2007 Space 0.05g 60,000 miles Geosynchronous Earth Orbit 22,300 miles Hard vacuum 1,000 miles Medium Earth Orbit begins 300 miles 0.95g 100 miles Low Earth Orbit begins 60 miles Astronaut wings awarded 50 miles Limit for ramjet engines 28 miles Limit for turbojet engines 20 miles Stratosphere begins 10 miles Illustration not to scale Artist’s conception by Erik Simonsen AIR FORCE Magazine / August 2007 75 US Military Missions in Space Space Support Space Force Enhancement Space Control Space Force Application Launch of satellites and other Provide satellite communica- Ensure freedom of action in space Provide capabilities for the ap- high-value payloads into space tions, navigation, weather infor- for the US and its allies and, plication of combat operations and operation of those satellites mation, missile warning, com- when directed, deny an adversary in, through, and from space to through a worldwide network of mand and control, and intel- freedom of action in space. influence the course and outcome ground stations. ligence to the warfighter. of conflict. US Space Funding Millions of constant Fiscal 2007 dollars 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 Fiscal Year 59 62 65 68 71 74 77 80 83 86 89 92 95 98 01 04 Fiscal Year NASA DOD Other Total Fiscal Year NASA DOD Other Total 1959 1,841 3,457 240 5,538 1983 13,051 18,601 675 32,327 1960 3,205 3,892
    [Show full text]
  • 50000000 Housing Project for Southeast Matawan Township
    MQ3KDUTH C O . HISTORICAL A SSS.,- FSBEHOLD* #.J. 'P,': f ’ ■ .... f;: . $50,000,000 Housing Project Street Signs. For IWarlboro Township Paul T. Caliill ’’Miss Rheingold” At Cliffwood Beach Buys Company For Southeast Matawan Township Cliffwood Beach Co., Frederick Weiuel, chairman of the Matawan Tpwuship' Planning Real Estate Firm, Sold Board, disclosed last night that a Coin-Boxing Barred P a u l T hom as C ahill, 157 N ether- developer who will adhere to the Matawan Is Key wood Dr., Cliffwood Beach, has lWM>y-150-foot m inim um lot a iie Chief Jeha J. Flood, Mata­ purchased the real estate bus|. Is In te reste d in buying up 1500 waa Police, aald yesterday he In Sterner Plan ness of the Cliffwood Beach Co., acres in the southeasterly section had received a directive from k s b e r t W arw ick, M onm outh Inc., from the Estates of Samuel of the township. At somewhat less Planning Chairman D. Walker and Charles W. Mor. than three houses to the acre, this Ceuaty traffic safety co-ordl- aatar, that all solidtalioni for Resubmits To State risey and has formed tlie Caliill would be a 3000-to-t000 hom esite Co. Officers of the new i^tjipany development. Tlie houses w ould be charitable or public service Matawan Station and the Mat­ are Mr. Cahill, president; Everett priced in the - >15.000 range, ic- purposes from motorists oa hlghwaya must stop. - The di­ awan Township-ftarilan area near II. Larrison, Broadwly, Keyport, cording to Mr. Wenzel, making tt vice president; Lillian A.
    [Show full text]
  • Countdown Test Cheers Launch Team
    Manifestdestiny Coolfuel National Aeronautics and NASA's newest Mixed Fleet Manifest A safer T-38 fuel with a higher "flash point" Space Administration rearranges several of the next Space Shuttle is being tested at Ellington Field. LyndonB. JohnsonSpace Center missions. Chart on Page 3. Story on Page 4. Houston, Texas vo sp_ace NewSeptember s9, 1988 undupNo. 26 'It's the final stretch' , Countdown test cheers launch team The STS-26 crew boarded Discov- Readiness Review scheduled for i ery on Launch Pad 39B Thursday Tuesday at Kennedy,and, at present, morning to go through a final dress nothing has appeared that would rehearsal of the return to flight with interrupt the flow toward launch, he Kennedy Space Center's Firing Room said. "We're still looking at sometime team. in the last week of Septemberfor The Terminal Countdown Demon- launch." stration Test {TCDT),or "dry count," This week, technicians at the pad began with a call to stations for the are performing a borescope inspec- launch team at 5 tion of the Orbi- nesday, and the oxygen {GOX) simulatedcount- system. Three a.m.CDTWed-.._" _` ' ST S.26 tGer'sOXflogaseow controlus J.scP_o_ _r_,u,_ thdoewnT-began19 hourat The Return to Flight valve parts were Construction workers tear down a temporary wall separating Bldg. 9B from Bldg. gA Wednesday as mark. T-0, the removed from the new 26,000-square-foot facility nears completion. 9B will house Space Station training and test culminationof the test,occurred about Discovery last weekend in an effort equipment, including mockupssuch as the one at left.
    [Show full text]