WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.000 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:06.000 GEORGE DILLER: This is shuttle launch control at T-3 hours and holding. We have two hours, 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:11.000 13 minutes, 50 seconds remaining in this planned built in hold. 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:17.000 Joining us here at the console now in the Firing Room 4 is STS-122 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:22.000 space shuttle Atlantis Launch Director Doug Lyons. 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:29.000 Doug has been involved this morning with all of the testing going on with the 00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:34.000 ECO system sensors, and we've asked Doug to come over and talk to us 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:38.000 a little bit and give us a little bit of status on how that's gone, 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:42.000 where we think we are with the sensors for the countdown today, 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:47.000 and what all has been going on during all of this this morning. So Doug, 00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:51.000 could you tell us a little bit what's been going on since we started, 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:54.000 I guess, about 5:20 this morning? 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:56.000 DOUG LYONS: Absolutely George, and good morning everybody. 00:00:56.000 --> 00:01:02.000 The atmosphere here in the firing room is one of excitement and the reason for 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:11.000 that is the countdown is proceeding nicely. We did get into our tanking right on time at 5:20 this morning. 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:18.000 The ECO systems went wet as expected during the load process, so that was our first good sign. 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:23.000 Shortly thereafter, we commanded the sensors to the dry state at 6:15 this morning, 00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:26.000 and we left them there and monitored the system, and that was another 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:31.000 good sign that the system did not go open. During that period, 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:36.000 the connector went through its thermal conditioning and, again, we stayed dry. 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:41.000 So we went through that without issue. Again we continued to monitor, 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:49.000 and once we got fully tanked, around 8:15, we went into a system competence test on the sensors. 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:56.000 And I'm pleased to say all the sensors functioned as designed, and we have 00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:59.000 a good ECO system and we're ready to go fly. 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:06.000 Now we will continue to monitor the system throughout the countdown and our final competence 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:12.000 is performed at T-9 minutes, but again, we have high confidence that that'll be successful. 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:17.000 As you're aware, all our failures have been early in the tanking process when that connector went 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:24.000 through its thermal conditioning and, again, that's behind us and the system's fully functional. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:27.000 So we've got the Final Inspection Team out at the pad now. 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:33.000 They're taking a look at the tank, taking a look for ice, any foam cracks or that type of thing. 00:02:33.000 --> 00:02:38.000 They'll be out there for a couple hours and then come back and give our chief engineers a report 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:44.000 on the condition of the tank. But again, thus far, everything looks real good out there. 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:48.000 So Atlantis is in great shape and we're looking forward to a successful launch today. 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:53.000 DILLER: So the factor, we're at this point with the connector and we've not seen any problems. 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:56.000 Again, we have four good sensors showing up right now. 00:02:56.000 --> 00:03:01.000 LYONS: That's correct, we're 4-4, and again, we've fun a full battery of 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:06.000 competence checks and the system is functioning as designed and, again, 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:11.000 we expect that it will continue to do so and we'll have a successful launch this morning. 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:15.000 DILLER: Tell us what our criteria are going to be as far as the sensors, 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:20.000 should anything happen between now and launch, what's our go and no go? 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:23.000 What rules will the team be following? 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:27.000 LYONS: Well, we've got a launch commit criteria on this system and the 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:32.000 criteria is you need three of four systems to commit the vehicle to launch. 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:37.000 So that's what we'll be tracking. Again, now we're 4-4 and we expect to be 4-4 through 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:49.000 T-0. But should one fail, per the LCC, we would be go and we monitor, that LCC is effective up to T-5 minutes. 00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:53.000 And that's when we finally commit the system to flight. 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:57.000 DILLER: Well, Doug, thanks very much. It looks like we've got a lot behind us here. 00:03:57.000 --> 00:04:01.000 A lot has been accomplished in the last six to eight weeks. 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:07.000 So now if the weather will just give us a break here, we'll be off to the space station. 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:10.000 Thanks very much for coming over and giving us that status on this. 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:12.000 LYONS: Okay, you're very welcome. Go Atlantis! 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:18.000 DILLER: At T-3 hours and holding, 2 hours, 9 minutes, 40 seconds remaining 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:21.000 in this built-in hold, this is shuttle launch control. 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:22.000