Lockheed Martin Workers Damage NOAA N Prime Satellite in Mishap

Goddard Space Flight Center via SpaceRef.com ^ | September 6, 2003 | K. Halterman

[anymouse]

Earth Science Missions Anomaly Report: GOES/POES Program/POES Project: 6 Sep 2003

EARTH SCIENCE MISSIONS ANOMALY REPORT

TO: GSFC: 100/A. Diaz, 100/W. Townsend, 100/ 400/D Perkins, NASA HQ: Y/G. Asrar, Y/M. Luther, Q/B O’Connor

FROM: GSFC/POES Project/480/K. Halterman

DATE: September 6, 2003

PROGRAM/PROJECT: GOES/POES Program/POES Project

DATE OF ANOMALY: September 6, 2003

LOCATION OF ANOMALY: Lockheed Martin, Sunnyvale CA

DESCRIPTION OF EVENT:

As the NOAA-N Prime spacecraft was being repositioned from vertical to horizontal on the "turn over cart" at approximately 7:15 PDT today, it slipped off the fixture, causing severe damage. (See attached photo). The 18' long spacecraft was about 3' off the ground when it fell.

The mishap was caused because 24 bolts were missing from a fixture in the “turn over cart”. Two errors occurred. First, technicians from another satellite program that uses the same type of “turn over cart” removed the 24 bolts from the NOAA cart on September 4 without proper documentation. Second, the NOAA team working today failed to follow the procedure to verify the configuration of the NOAA “turn over cart” since they had used it a few days earlier.

IMPACT ON PROGRAM/PROJECT AND SCHEDULE:

The shock and vibration of the fall undoubtedly caused tremendous damage. Significant rework and retest will be required. NOAA-N Prime is planned for launch in 2008.

CORRECTIVE ACTION:

Lockheed Martin formed an Accident Review Team in which GSFC is participating. The immediate actions concern safety (preventing the spacecraft from rolling, discharging the batteries, and depressurizing the propulsion system). NOAA-N Prime is under guard, all records have been impounded, and the personnel interviewed. After the safety issues are addressed, attention will focus on assessing the damage to NOAA-N Prime.

[anymouse]

It looks like Homer Simpson has found a new job at Lockheed.

[anymouse]

Space ping

[boris]

"It looks like Homer Simpson has found a new job at Lockheed."

Now I don't feel so bad working for Boeing.

Remember feet versus meters? I betcha the LM engineers have got that by now.

--Boris

[The Brush]

Missing 24 bolts? Forgot to check for the missing 24 bolts?Someone is going to be on suspension with full pay for this!

[RangerHobbit]

I'll bet Scotty could fix that thing with a pocket knife and a roll of duct tape.

[Reeses]

Oops.

[ASOC]

The guys that swiped the bolts in the first place......

Bottom(MORT) line
Management was "less than adequate" for the task at hand.

[RIGHT IN SEATTLE]

[El Gato]

That hurts to even look at. Ouch. Lockeed and not the taxpayers better be paying the bill to make it right. That will also assure that those resposible, except some managers maybe, are held accountable. Companies really hate unexpected cash outlays.

[newguy357]

Now I don't feel so bad working for Boeing.

Remember feet versus meters? I betcha the LM engineers have got that by now.

Yes, we have. And now that we have, you Boeing engineers inevitably have as well, from various conveniently located former-LM engineers you hired on....

[RIGHT IN SEATTLE]

Even this coach faired much better than Columbia.

[LasVegasMac]

Yes, we have. And now that we have, you Boeing engineers inevitably have as well, from various conveniently located former-LM engineers you hired on....

LMAO! hehe.

LVM

[Publius6961]

First, technicians from another satellite program that uses the same type of “turn over cart” removed the 24 bolts from the NOAA cart on September 4 without proper documentation.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Here they are playing with hundred-million dollar satellites and they can't afford 24 more bolts?

What's wrong with this picture?

I know! let's make fewer bolts and we can use them on all the satellites and save a few bucks!

[Consort]

Is this a bolt thread?

[FlyVet]

First, technicians from another satellite program that uses the same type of “turn over cart” removed the 24 bolts from the NOAA cart on September 4 without proper documentation. Second, the NOAA team working today failed to follow the procedure to verify the configuration of the NOAA “turn over cart” since they had used it a few days earlier.

Heh. Good thing they weren't enlisted swine working on the flightline. No Red X's, no checklist. Woulda been Article 15 or Courts-Martial time. I wonder if they rounded them all up and sent them to the hospital for a piss test. Doubt it.

[Quix]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPS!

Or, as surgeons say

"--THERE."

[Othniel]

I know a guy who worked at Boeing on the 777. He said that when they finished the first one, they flew it down to San Francisco with a bunch of bigwigs, the Sect. of Transportation among them. While they were in SFO waiting for fueling, a catering truck rammed the side of it, right in one of the doors where food and whatnot is uploaded. A lot of clenched teeth on that one......

All it takes is one monkey.

[boris]

"Yes, we have. And now that we have, you Boeing engineers inevitably have as well, from various conveniently located former-LM engineers you hired on...."

Industrial espionage is above my pay grade.

I am grateful.

--Boris

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Love to know the historical background.

[MikeD]

Even worse -- this company claims to be ISO9001 compliant. At least two procedures were missed -- noting the removal of the bolts and checking for the bolts before moving the spacecraft.

Glad it wasn't me...

MD