1) The ET houses (contains) two smaller tanks of LOX and LH2? Which is the oxidizer and which is the fuel?

2) Which rocket engines does the ET supply with fuel and oxidizer?

3) How does the LOX and LH2 get from the ET to the SSMEs?

4) During a liftoff of the Space Shuttle it is very common to see chunks of ice falling off of the sides. What do you think causes this?

5) The SSMEs are throttled back to about 65% of their power about 30-40 seconds after liftoff. After a few more seconds, the SSMEs are throttled up to about 104%. This whole procedure is called the “Throttle Bucket.” Why is the Throttle Bucket necessary? (Read the outline for this answer)

6) Which Comm Loop would be used for the Flight Director to find out if the weather at Edwards Air Force Base was suitable (OK) for a landing?

7) Which Flight Controller is usually the only one who talks directly with the Astronaut Crew? (A Flight Controller and a Mission Controller is the same thing).

8) Each Flight Controller uses a call sign when they are on the Loop. What is are the call signs for the following Flight Control positions: a) Capsule Communicator b) Flight Activities Officer c) Flight Director d) Flight Surgeon e) Flight Dynamics Officer

9) Why is it so necessary to have “Loop Discipline” when working as a Flight Controller?

10) Almost all communication on the MCC Loop must go through who? In other words, this person approves all talk that goes on.

11) What do you think would happen if only one SRB ignited at liftoff?

12) Why is it important for the Orbiter to be at the correct angle during EI? What would happen if it entered EI pointing straight up?

13) What do you do if you are speaking on the MCC Loop and you hear the CDR voice suddenly come on the loop?

14) Who is responsible for everything that happens during a mission? Who is responsible for everything that happens onboard the Orbiter?

15) Problems #24 – 34 are real telemetry readings that certain Flight Controllers may encounter. Some can also be found as labels for switches inside the Orbiter. Write out the full name of each one. You’ll need to use your acronyms and abbreviations to “decode” these. (EXAMPLE: Dmp Vlv = Dump Valve)

16) Fwd RCS Fuel Tk Pres

17) Fwd RCS Oxid Tk Temp (Temp is Temperature)

18) Fwd Rcs Htr Sect 3 (Sect is Section)

19) APU 2 Spd

20) APU 1 GN2 Blr 1 Pres

21) APU 1 GN2 Inj Clnt 1

22) Cbn Pres

23) LOX F & D

24) Sply Dmp Vlv

25) Thrst Vec Ctrl Vlv

26) Ail Ctrl

27) Below are listed several problems that we encounter during the mission. Read each one and then tell which flight controller (mission controller) you believe would be in the “hot seat.” Look through your Mission Manual and talk this over with your teammates. (Since the Flight Director is ultimately responsible for everything that happens, we’ll just assume that they are also in the hot seat on all of these.)

a) The Shuttle’s Forward RCS will not operate properly.

b) The Shuttle has a sudden loss of electrical power.

c) The robotic arm on the Shuttle will not fold and lock into place.

d) The Commander needs to know the exact altitude of the Shuttle to perform a certain experiment.

Far Out Space Math--You may use a calculator to help you on these. Complete them on a separate sheet. Show your work. If you use a calculator, show what numbers and symbols you entered into the calculator.

1) A vehicle is traveling at a velocity of 42 fps. This means that every second it travels another 42’. How far will it travel in . . .

17 seconds?

60 seconds?

1 minute (1 minute = 60 seconds)?

1 minute and 19 seconds?

2) Vertical velocity is the speed at which something travels away from the Earth’s surface. Altitude is the distance of an object (like a rocket or plane) from the Earth.

An imaginary rocket lifts off from the ground and travels away from Earth at a vertical velocity of 250 feet per second. What will its altitude be after

4 seconds?

69 seconds?

2 minutes and 12 seconds?

4 min and 21 sec?

3) At MECO the Shuttle has a vertical velocity of around 512 fps. It’s altitude at MECO is approximately 365,000 feet. Using these numbers and assuming the Shuttle will keep traveling at the same velocity after MECO, what will its altitude be 30 seconds after MECO?

4) A vehicle is traveling at a velocity of 54 fps. It increases its velocity by 12 fps. This would be a Delta V of “plus 12 fps.” Its new velocity would be 66 fps (54 fps + 12 fps = 66 fps).

A vehicle is traveling at a velocity of 80 fps. It decreases its velocity by 25 fps. This would be a Delta V of “minus 25 fps.” Its new velocity would be 55 fps (80 fps minus 25 fps = 55 fps).

Calculate the following velocities after their Delta V.

34 fps with a Delta V of plus 15 fps.

125 fps with a Delta V of plus 78 fps.

457 fps with a Delta V of minus 39 fps.

5,356 fps with a Delta V of minus 2,877 fps.

99.34 fps with a Delta V of plus 42.87 fps

43 fps with a Delta V of plus 15 fps followed by a Delta V of plus 23 fps.

7,834 fps with a Delta V of plus 1,088 followed by a Delta V of minus 453 fps.

Mission Challenge:

At MET 1:00:00 (1 hour: 00 minutes: 00 seconds) the Shuttle’s velocity is 25,344 fps. How many feet will the Shuttle have traveled at MET 1:00:30 ?