Location

Howard Johnson Plaza-Hotel, Atlantis/ Discovery Rooms

Start Date

23-4-1996 2:00 PM

End Date

23-4-1996 5:00 PM

Description

The Shuttle Program has experienced numerous launch delays over the 15-year history of launch operations. This paper presents a comprehensive tabulation of those delays along with descriptive data covering launch attempts, system/subsystem involved and a brief discussion of the cause of the each delay. This historical data has been audited against NASA/JSC flight history and current records at KSC. Both number of occurrences and magnitude of each launch delay are summarized in a database format allowing analysis, sorting by system o r Orbiter vehicle and chronological assessment. Trends in launch delays since return to flight and comparisons with expendable launch vehicle data are presented. A special sort is described summarizing the propulsion system delays over the history of the program. This particular analysis has application to the new X-33 / Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Program due to the universal selection of L02/LH2 engines for all RLV designs. Significant lessons learned from these launch delay data are presented for comparison with the optimistic turnaround projections for X-33 and RLV.

Comments

Current and Future Launch Vehicles and Facilities

Session Chairman: Jerry Cobb, Director, Business Development, Lockheed Launch Vehicle

Session Organizer: Tony Fresina

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Apr 23rd, 2:00 PM Apr 23rd, 5:00 PM

Paper Session I-A - Space Shuttle Launch Delays and Lessons Learned for RLV/X-33

Howard Johnson Plaza-Hotel, Atlantis/ Discovery Rooms

The Shuttle Program has experienced numerous launch delays over the 15-year history of launch operations. This paper presents a comprehensive tabulation of those delays along with descriptive data covering launch attempts, system/subsystem involved and a brief discussion of the cause of the each delay. This historical data has been audited against NASA/JSC flight history and current records at KSC. Both number of occurrences and magnitude of each launch delay are summarized in a database format allowing analysis, sorting by system o r Orbiter vehicle and chronological assessment. Trends in launch delays since return to flight and comparisons with expendable launch vehicle data are presented. A special sort is described summarizing the propulsion system delays over the history of the program. This particular analysis has application to the new X-33 / Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Program due to the universal selection of L02/LH2 engines for all RLV designs. Significant lessons learned from these launch delay data are presented for comparison with the optimistic turnaround projections for X-33 and RLV.

 

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