http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts116/061109status/
"The shuttle Discovery was hauled to launch pad 39B today for work to ready the ship for blastoff Dec. 7 on a critical space station assembly and re-wiring mission. NASA managers considered moving launch up an additional day, to Dec. 6, but ruled that out today based on time needed to complete crew training and to develop software intended to prevent damage to the station's new solar arrays. The software in question is designed to constantly monitor the positions of the sun-tracking arrays and warn flight controllers of possible rocket plume contamination or excessive structural loads, Sources said the new monitoring software - and the training needed to use it - likely cannot be formally certified before Discovery's current December launch window closes. Instead, engineers hope to have a workable system in place by Dec. 7, although details about what needs to be done are not yet clear." Now THAT is what I call a deadline. "We know it won't be ready by the 6th, but we're going on the 7th". You gotta admire that. A real midnight deadline. Get into orbit, and we'll send you the software that's critical to the mission. They can't install the panels without the software - it might well damage the panels or the ISS. Anyone taking money on them missing? Or on PSI not fixing their I/O problems by January? -- Phil Payne http://www.isham-research.co.uk +44 7833 654 800 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
