Under-construction $239 million satellite topples to floor in mishap

Doglips · 09-10-2003, 03:12 PM

Yep they aint rocket scientist....appearently they did not know it was unbolted....fliped the cart it was on over

Under-construction $239 million satellite topples to floor in mishap
By The Associated Press

(9/09/03 - SAN JOSE, CA) — A nearly completed, $239 million weather satellite toppled to the floor as it was being moved at a Lockheed Martin plant and was seriously damaged, officials said Tuesday.

The NOAA-N Prime was being moved from a vertical to a horizontal position when it fell 3 feet Saturday at the Sunnyvale facility.

The satellite was intended to go into polar orbit in 2008 and monitor the climate for up to four years. In addition to weather, vegetation and drought studies, it was to be used for receiving distress signals from mariners and hikers.

Officials said it was too early to determine how its schedule might be affected or whether any of its tasks will have to be changed.

According to a source close to the program, bolts that were supposed to secure the satellite to the "turn over cart" had been removed a day earlier by a crew working on another satellite project. The crew working on NOAA-N Prime did not notice the bolts were missing when they tried to flip the satellite, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Lockheed Martin spokesman Buddy Nelson said it appears that the cart "was not in the proper configuration for the planned activity."

"We're reviewing the paperwork and examining the hardware to determine the facts," he said.

No one had had access to the spacecraft since the mishap. Crews must wait for its batteries to drain and propellant tanks to depressurize before approaching the 18-foot satellite.

"It will probably be a couple to three weeks," said Gary Davis, director of the office of systems development for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The construction and launch are being overseen by NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center. After launch and testing, the satellite was to be turned over to NOAA.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. has been building weather satellites since the first one went up in the early 1960s.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Last Updated: Sep 9, 2003

Doglips · 09-10-2003, 03:13 PM

dhermesc · 09-10-2003, 03:55 PM

The satellite was intended to go into polar orbit in 2008 and monitor the climate for up to four years. In addition to weather, vegetation and drought studies, it was to be used for receiving distress signals from mariners and hikers

I got an idea to save $239 million, give a cell phone to an Eskimo and have him call in the temp every couple days and tell the hikers and mariners to buy a compass. Where do I line up to get a check for my money saving idea?

SPOCAHP ANAR · 09-10-2003, 04:01 PM

239 million and they can't afford two sets of bolts! So much for the concept of lowest bidder.

Klaus · 09-10-2003, 04:09 PM

It was clearly the union labor.

Big Dog · 09-10-2003, 04:57 PM

Hmmmm . . . a member of another project nicked the bolts?
Either a prank gone woefully wrong, or a case of intercompany rivalry and sabotage.
I'm betting at least one worker gets a pinkslip over this.

PAPA G · 09-10-2003, 05:13 PM

of "nicked Bolts", "intercompany rivalry", or "union labor" in the article.

what is clear is that L-M does not double check things, before an event happens. sabotage??? not likely because if caught the sabatuer will most likely face jail time. the chain of procedures was broken somewhere, if some one borrowed a couple bolts for another project. why wasn't managment notified??? an overzealous engineer trying to make points with his boss by tryig o speed up things; thats what i think.

Snakebite · 09-10-2003, 06:36 PM

It doesnt look too bad....I think I could fix it

DANA · 09-10-2003, 08:01 PM

NOW I CAN USE THE "DUCK TAPE"

DANA

Stewart · 09-10-2003, 09:09 PM

Ooops!

Klaus · 09-11-2003, 07:40 AM

Most employees in Goddard are union and the article clearly stated that another crew DID swipe the bolts. I quote:
"According to a source close to the program, bolts that were supposed to secure the satellite to the "turn over cart" had been removed a day earlier by a crew working on another satellite project."

Oxford · 09-11-2003, 10:41 AM

Yes, DANA, duct tape and super glue might work!

:nod:

DANA · 09-11-2003, 02:37 PM

THAT WAS MY TAKE ON THE AFLAC DUCK ADD AS TO DUCT TAPE.

DANA

Dale · 09-11-2003, 03:08 PM

The story strikes close...real close...to home, if you get my drift.

And, there is more to the story than was published.

And as a side bar, the employees involved were not union and it was NOT shipped that way and NOT the employees cited at fault.

The close source is full of CHIT! They're looking to blame someone other than the plant employees at Lockheed because they have big contracts at stake.

09-10-2003, 03:12 PM	#1
Doglips Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cocoa Florida Posts: 9,089	Under-construction $239 million satellite topples to floor in mishap Yep they aint rocket scientist....appearently they did not know it was unbolted....fliped the cart it was on over Under-construction $239 million satellite topples to floor in mishap By The Associated Press (9/09/03 - SAN JOSE, CA) — A nearly completed, $239 million weather satellite toppled to the floor as it was being moved at a Lockheed Martin plant and was seriously damaged, officials said Tuesday. The NOAA-N Prime was being moved from a vertical to a horizontal position when it fell 3 feet Saturday at the Sunnyvale facility. The satellite was intended to go into polar orbit in 2008 and monitor the climate for up to four years. In addition to weather, vegetation and drought studies, it was to be used for receiving distress signals from mariners and hikers. Officials said it was too early to determine how its schedule might be affected or whether any of its tasks will have to be changed. According to a source close to the program, bolts that were supposed to secure the satellite to the "turn over cart" had been removed a day earlier by a crew working on another satellite project. The crew working on NOAA-N Prime did not notice the bolts were missing when they tried to flip the satellite, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Lockheed Martin spokesman Buddy Nelson said it appears that the cart "was not in the proper configuration for the planned activity." "We're reviewing the paperwork and examining the hardware to determine the facts," he said. No one had had access to the spacecraft since the mishap. Crews must wait for its batteries to drain and propellant tanks to depressurize before approaching the 18-foot satellite. "It will probably be a couple to three weeks," said Gary Davis, director of the office of systems development for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The construction and launch are being overseen by NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center. After launch and testing, the satellite was to be turned over to NOAA. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. has been building weather satellites since the first one went up in the early 1960s. (Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Last Updated: Sep 9, 2003 Last edited by Doglips; 09-10-2003 at 03:15 PM.

09-10-2003, 03:55 PM	#3
dhermesc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: East Central Kansas Posts: 1,762	The satellite was intended to go into polar orbit in 2008 and monitor the climate for up to four years. In addition to weather, vegetation and drought studies, it was to be used for receiving distress signals from mariners and hikers I got an idea to save $239 million, give a cell phone to an Eskimo and have him call in the temp every couple days and tell the hikers and mariners to buy a compass. Where do I line up to get a check for my money saving idea? __________________ Liberty is for those that claim it.

09-10-2003, 04:01 PM	#4
SPOCAHP ANAR Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: SC-upstate Posts: 4,084 Images: 3 Blog Entries: 4	239 million and they can't afford two sets of bolts! So much for the concept of lowest bidder. __________________ Spocrest Out!..........

09-10-2003, 04:09 PM	#5
Klaus Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 2,383	It was clearly the union labor. __________________ "Gee, Wally, Eddie Haskel's mom puts out!"

09-10-2003, 04:57 PM	#6
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,201	Hmmmm . . . a member of another project nicked the bolts? Either a prank gone woefully wrong, or a case of intercompany rivalry and sabotage. I'm betting at least one worker gets a pinkslip over this. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

09-10-2003, 05:13 PM	#7
PAPA G Guest Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: somerset, kentucky Posts: 12	I SEE NO MENTION..................... of "nicked Bolts", "intercompany rivalry", or "union labor" in the article. what is clear is that L-M does not double check things, before an event happens. sabotage??? not likely because if caught the sabatuer will most likely face jail time. the chain of procedures was broken somewhere, if some one borrowed a couple bolts for another project. why wasn't managment notified??? an overzealous engineer trying to make points with his boss by tryig o speed up things; thats what i think.

09-10-2003, 06:36 PM	#8
Snakebite Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tucson, Mexico Posts: 1,839	It doesnt look too bad....I think I could fix it

09-10-2003, 08:01 PM	#9
DANA Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: WAITSFIELD VERMONT Posts: 1,595	NOW I CAN USE THE "DUCK TAPE" DANA

09-10-2003, 09:09 PM	#10
Stewart Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Calhoun, Georgia Posts: 675	Ooops! __________________ "You can sleep well at night because rough men are willing to commit violent acts on your behalf" George Orwell

09-11-2003, 07:40 AM	#11
Klaus Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 2,383	Most employees in Goddard are union and the article clearly stated that another crew DID swipe the bolts. I quote: "According to a source close to the program, bolts that were supposed to secure the satellite to the "turn over cart" had been removed a day earlier by a crew working on another satellite project." __________________ "Gee, Wally, Eddie Haskel's mom puts out!" Last edited by Klaus; 09-11-2003 at 01:43 PM.

09-11-2003, 10:41 AM	#12
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,021 Blog Entries: 4	Yes, DANA, duct tape and super glue might work! :nod: __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

09-11-2003, 02:37 PM	#13
DANA Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: WAITSFIELD VERMONT Posts: 1,595	THAT WAS MY TAKE ON THE AFLAC DUCK ADD AS TO DUCT TAPE. DANA

09-11-2003, 03:08 PM	#14
Dale Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Too Dang Hot, Arizona Posts: 4,284	The story strikes close...real close...to home, if you get my drift. And, there is more to the story than was published. And as a side bar, the employees involved were not union and it was NOT shipped that way and NOT the employees cited at fault. The close source is full of CHIT! They're looking to blame someone other than the plant employees at Lockheed because they have big contracts at stake. __________________ "It confuses me how some people can vigorously go against the 2nd. Amendment and still call themselves patriotic"-me Last edited by Dale; 09-11-2003 at 03:13 PM.