1) Why does the Orbiter only have one chance to land? In other words, if it misses the runway why can it not just fly back around and try again like an airplane does?

2) Before using the TDRS Satellite System, the Space Shuttle used Ground Tracking Stations to communicate back and forth with MCC. GTS were very expensive to operate, but they had another huge problem. What was it?

3) What are the two main satellites used in the TDRS System and which hemisphere does each one cover?

4) Imagine that TDRW loses all of its electrical power. What could be done to make it possible for the Orbiter to communicate with MCC while its over the Western Hemisphere?

5) Why does the Orbiter experience an LOS about every 90 minutes?

6) What system of communication can be used in the event of a total failure of the TDRS system?

7) TDRS Satellites are parked in a GEO, or Geostationary Earth Orbit. What does that mean?

8) TDRS Satellites must be at an altitude of around 22,000 miles to stay in GEO. How does being so high also help them to communicate with a very large area (HINT: Think about Line of Sight)?

9) What path does all communication travel going from MCC to the Orbiter? In other words, where does the signal go first, then second, . . .

10) What could be done if the Ground Terminal at WSC were completely wiped out?

11) Explain what the ZOE is.

12) There are two things that MCC can do to communicate with the Orbiter while it is in the ZOE. What are they?

13) Which Flight Controller is responsible for letting the crew know that they will be entering the ZOE?

14) Which Flight Controller normally communicates on the SMG Loop? What is the SMG Loop used for?

15) Does the MCC have to have Line Of Sight with the TDRS satellites to communicate with them? Why or why not? (HINT: Read this question very carefully because it is a bit tricky)

16) How often are telemetry values normally recorded?

Use your Telemetry Thresholds sheets to answer the questions #16 - 19.

17) Booster notices that the Fwd RCS He Tk Temp is 66 deg. Is this nominal or off-nominal?

18) EECOM notices that FC1 Stack Temp is 203 deg. Is this nominal or off-nominal?

19) MAX notices that the SpcLb Auxiallary DC is 126. Is this nominal or off-nominal?

20) Booster notices on their 30-Minute Telemetry Tracker Input sheet that the Cbn CO2 Pct has gone up 0.2 % every 30 minutes for the past two hours. Should they be concerned? Why or why not?

21) What would be a likely cause of a telemetry value that goes from 125 to 2190034 in a few seconds?

22) In “plain talk” explain what is going on in this conversation on the MCC Loop and the AGL Loop:

“Flight, EECOM. I show that the Cabin Pres is pegging the upper threshold at 14.8 psi.”

“Copy that, EECOM. CapCom relay same.”

“Roger that, Flight”

“Star Sailor, Russell”

“Go Russell”

“We show a Cabin Pres of 14.8 psi. Do you concur?”

“Negative, Russell. We show Cabin Pres is nominal.”

“Copy that, Star Sailor. Cabin Pres is nominal. Standby one while we look into it down here.”

HINT: Cabin pressure simply means the air pressure inside the part of the Orbiter where the crew rides.

Thanks for all of your hard work!

T minus 0 will be here before you know it and then it all pays off!