Posted on 12/21/2021 3:30:07 PM PST by BenLurkin
In a statement late Dec. 17, NASA announced that SLS engineers decided they needed to replace the controller for engine four in the core stage of the SLS. One of two redundant channels in the controller failed to power up consistently during tests of the integrated vehicle at the Kennedy Space Center.
That controller operated as expected during the core stage’s Green Run test campaign at the Stennis Space Center that concluded with a full-duration static-fire test in March. An initial investigation failed to identify the root cause of the problem.
NASA did not give a schedule for the work but ruled out a launch in the initial window of Feb. 12 to 27 that the agency announced in October.
Even before this latest issue, there were doubts that SLS would be ready when the first launch opportunity opened Feb. 12. Before the launch itself, NASA will roll SLS out to Launch Complex 39B for tests, including a wet dress rehearsal where the rocket is loaded with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants and goes through a practice countdown that stops just before engine ignition.
Industry sources said that rollout needed to take place by the end of the December to keep preparations for a February launch on schedule. However, as of Dec. 10, NASA said the program was planning a rollout in mid-January.
(Excerpt) Read more at spacenews.com ...
Meanwhile SpaceX launched 3 in three days (roughly) and nailed their 100th booster recovery. The SLS team needs a win here, their launch better happen on time and perform flawlessly else Elon will take to Twitter. We know how people get backside-hurt over mean tweets...
I was listening to an engineer explain why some car brands are having problems getting computers and newer car brands aren’t. The older brands designed their computers years ago to a different standard of parts. Those older parts had, over time, become something microchip manufacturers had to reset their production lines to make, so they’d do them in big batches and then retool to make the newer, smaller form cell phone style parts. Suddenly, the microcircuit manufacturers could sell all of the newer smaller form circuits they could make. They didn’t have the time or capacity to set up to make the older, larger form parts. Thus, the newer car manufacturers, such as Tesla, that designed with the newer parts were getting the parts they needed. The older manufacturers didn’t want to make the investment and take the risk of designing a new product when the old one worked just fine. Now, those manufacturers have a Delima. Either redesign, which costs time and has many risks, or wait for the small form demand to reduce. It’s a gamble either way.
That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for posting.
That's just life in the high-tech manufacturing world. Everyone in that field has to deal with it. It's been that way for a long time.
There even exists a "secondary" or "grey" market for chips that become obsolete simply because their supplier stops making this. People actually invest in chips that they think will go obsolete before the market for them dries up. If the play works, they can sell the hoarded chips for a big mark-up to desperate users who will suffer a loss of production if they can't get them.
Scotty Kilmer has one of them fancy OBD gadgets you plug into to diagnose things in a hurry. They ought to get ahold of him to straighten this out.
Absolutely! The Z80 was magnificent just for being able to hang on past its prime.
The 8255 PPI is still available, in “used” form. Almost 50 years after it was introduced!
Someone told me that 7-11s in Silicon Valley had 8255s for sale 24-7. In case you burned out your last one the night before the big demo.
Anything private enterprise can do in days, government can do in in months or years...
damn check engine light...
I once worked for a company that was both suing another for copyright infringement regarding them making copies of our flagship product, and buying those very boards because it was a way to acquire the limited components needed to continue production.
Those were better times. I miss the mini-computers as well.
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