Running My First Console Job

Last week I got to play Task Team Leader (TTL) for a console job. This meant I was in charge of coordinating with the Orbiter Test Conductor (OTC), Quality (QC), and the Technicians in the field. My role included talking on the net, monitoring the flow of the gaseous nitrogen (GN2) in the Ground Service Equipment (GSE) from the console computer, and commanding the solenoid valves.

During cart loading the week before we were having issues with one of the valves opening. It could have been a metering valve or a solenoid valve. The metering valve is person controlled right on the GSE where as the solenoid valve is controlled from the firing room through operator commands. These can be set to a sequencer to open and close at certain times which are more precise than what a human could do. Which is pretty important when you are dealing with hpypergolics. We were not sure which valve was having issues so we needed to route a flex hose from the metering valve to a gage on the other side of the solenoid. When we broke into the line at the metering valve and it was shown to be working we disconnected and tried using the solenoid. As it turns out it was working also. It must have just been a fluke in the system. There have not been too many problems with the solenoid valves so it is harder to figure out what the problem is. Could be that the magnetic pickups are gummed up. It will be something to look further into for the next loading.