WELCOME TO B.L.O.C. TRAINING
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Booster Launch Operations Center
BOOSTER LAUNCH OPERATIONS CENTER
B.
L.
O.
C.
Booster Launch Operations Center
Menu
Tests the BLOC Supports
SHUTTLE INTERFACE TEST SIT S0008
The Shuttle Interface Test is done in the VAB, even though some tests can be completed at the PAD. The test is usually done just prior to rollout and right after Obiter mate. The purpose of the test is to prove there are good electrical and mechanical connections between the MLP, External Tank, Solid Rocket Boosters and the Orbiter.
Tests the BLOC Supports
TERMINAL COUNT SIMULATION
S0044
A Terminal Count Simulation usually occurs every six weeks and it is performed in order to test the integrated launch team in problem identification; reporting and resolution as well as launch abort procedures. KSC, JSC/MCC and MSFC/HOSC support each simulation.�
SRBE supports the simulations from the BLOC and from Firing Room 2 at the MSRB and MSRB 2. If the S0044 is a Mission Management Team(MMT) Simulation, SRBE management will support from both the Prime Firing Room and the STS-107 Conference Room next to the BLOC.
Tests the BLOC Supports
TERMINAL COUNTDOWN DEMONSTRATION TEST TCDT S0017
The Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test is usually performed about 2 weeks prior to the scheduled launch data. It is usually supported by System’s engineers from Firing Room 2 at the MSRB Console. A TCDT simulates the final hours of a launch countdown and serves as a practice exercise in which both the launch team and flight crew rehearse launch daytime lines and procedures. The test culminates in a simulated ignition and automated shutdown of the orbiters main engines. Following the simulated T-0, the flight crew is briefed on emergency egress procedures and use of the fixed service structure slidewire system.
Tests the BLOC Supports
FUEL LOAD
S0024
The SRB TVC Fuel Load is is completed about 4 weeks before the scheduled launch date. It is sometimes supported from the BLOC by TVC Engineers. It consists of filling the FSMs with Hydrazine and bringing them up to flight pressure. S0024 also involves loading fuel onto the Orbiter.
FINAL ORDINANCE CONNECTION
S5009
The Final Ordinance Connection is completed about one week prior to the launch date. This includes connection of SRB Ordinance and the Range Safety System. Special comps are run in the BLOC for this operation.
Tests the BLOC Supports
SHUTTLE LAUNCH COUNTDOWN
S0007
Shuttle Launch Countdown is supported from the BLOC with the individual systems engineers on station along with Management and the Chief Engineer, from L-8HRS till after SRB separation. SRBE Element also provides support in Firing Room 2 at the MSRB Console and the MSRB Electrical Console along with the SRBE APM supporting from the Prime Firing Room. For 8 hours prior to L-8HRS the BLOC is supported with limited personnel along with the MSRB Console in Firing Room 2 for SRB Power Up.
How to Log On to BLOC Computers
A group userid srbbloc is typically used on all PCs during BLOC activities. The intent of the group userid is to prevent requiring an employee to stay logged on to run multi-shift applications. During major testing the Systems group will have setup all BLOC PCs using srbbloc logon. During short duration, single shift exercises any valid USA user may log on to use BLOC applications
Filter
BLOC Software
The data received in the BLOC is FIFO, First In-First Out, data that originates from the prime Control Room, either 1 or 3 typically numbered 010(FR1) or 012(FR3) depending on the mission.
FIFO
DATA
The FIFO data enters the FEP1 and FEP2 PCs in the BLOC. Filter is run on one of these two PCs. Filter is executed from the Datastreams program. Filter will only execute on the FEPs. It is not installed on any other PC.
Launch Control Center
ARF
Filter
The Filter program eliminates measurements not pertinent to SRB and broadcasts the pertinent data to the BLOC PCs on streams numbered 101(FEP1) or 102(FEP2). All other BLOC software should use these streams.
Data Streams
Running Displays, Strip Charts, and Comps
Operating a BLOC Display
TVC31S TVC3H
RSSOFF RSSON
Rcvy_Sys_on Rcvy_Sys_off
T-45M T-9H
MDM_PS_Sep
Operating a BLOC Display
Count Down Time
Flight Information
Display Title
Click to Change Display Size
Greenwich Mean Time
Function Designator(FD)
Measurement Title
LCC Affected
Hover over a measurement and it’s information will be displayed in the bottom left hand corner of the window.
Operating a BLOC Display
Red and Yellow Limits
A measurement appears Red on the display when it’s red line limits have been broken. The limits can been viewed by double clicking on the measurement.
A measurement appears Yellow on the display when it’s yellow limits have been broken. The limits can be viewed by double clicking on the measurement.
Using a BLOC Display
Double Left Click on the measurement will bring up the FD’s Information
Using a BLOC Display
Right Click on the measurement will bring up an option to plot, store, or view the constraints for that particular FD.
Clicking Plot will plot a strip chart of that particular FD.
Using a BLOC Display
Right Click on the measurement will bring up an option to plot, store, or view the constraints for that particular FD.
Clicking Store will store the FD. Up to five measurements can be stored then plotted by right clicking on a display where no value is being displayed then selecting Plot all stored FDs.
Using a BLOC Display
Right Click on the measurement will bring up an option to plot, store, or view the constraints for that particular FD.
Clicking View Constraints will bring up the Constraints and Requirements program
For info on Constraints click here
Running Strip Charts
Running Strip Charts
Clicking the RT, Real Time, button toggles between real time data and near real time data.
Running Strip Charts
Different chart view options can be selected.
To change FD being plotted select from the drop down menu containing all the FDs available in the BLOC.
Enter maximum and minimum Y-values for each FD plotted.
Change the color of the plot.
Add up to six different FDs by clicking the buttons.
Change the Time (X-values) of the plot.
Click SCR Pens to change the strip chart options and the FDs being plotted.
Running Comps
Clicking Start a Comp opens the Comps window.
There are 22 Comps available in the BLOC.
Three of the Comps used during launch countdown include Audio Alert, Changed Data and LCC Monitor
NRT mode can be selected to run programs in Near-Real Time.
LCC Monitor
If an FD is toggling in and out of its LCC requirements, it can be ignored by LCC Monitor and monitored using other BLOC software.
Clicking LCC Monitor will open the LCC Monitor Program.
This is how the program looks if there are no SRB LCC violations.
When a SRB LCC violation occurs it will appear in the window and an audible will sound.
Since multiple FDs can appear at one time, the FD must be selected before clicking one of the options at the bottom of the display.
To clear a FD from the LCC Monitor display click Clear Line.
To acquire the current value for the FD click Current Value and it will appear in the box.
To view a FD’s constraints click the constraints button.
To plot a Strip Chart of a FD click the Strip Chart button.
To view the Log containing all the FDs appearing in LCC Monitor click Open Log.
Using Changed Data
Excep is a BLOC program that looks at certain critical measurements and compares their value to a hysterias. If the change in the value of a particular measurement is significant it will display in the window with its was and is values.
The Measurement Stimulation identification (MSID) is also shown.
The Time of the measurements change is given.
The description of the measurement is also shown.
The previous value along with the changed to value of the measurement is also given.
Using Audio Alert
Clicking Audio Alert from the Comps window brings up this screen, which asks which version of the comp you would like to run.
The program will then ask for the names of the personnel on station.
When a major SRB event occurs, an audible will sound and the program will bring up a line containing the GMT and the description of the event.
For each major SRB event that occurs a voice will announce it’s description.
The last event to appear just before Launch is Hydraulic Power Up.
Reference Button�Using FD Util
To start FD Util click Reference, then FD Util.
If the FD your are getting details for is known, select it from the drop down list and click Details.
To perform a text search type in the keywords here and click Text Search.
To view all of the FDs for a particular Major System, Sub System, Type of Measurement, or Sign Type use these drop down lists and click the specific button next to them.
A list of FDs from any of the searches will then appear in the drop down list. Each time a search is done the number of FDs in the list is decreased. To reset the search click the Reset button.
Select an FD and click Details. This will bring up a window showing basic FD information, Displays the FD can be viewed on, strip charts the FD is on, and the Schematic Sheet the FD is located on.
Clicking Constraints brings up the FD’s constraints.
Clicking Details will bring up a window containing more specific information about the FD.
Reference Button�Using FD Util2
FD Util2 is very similar, but it uses the PCGoal2 FireBird Database, therefore contains information on all measurements rather then SRB only measurements.
A Database must be selected using the Browse button before any other feature. This will take a few seconds to load the entire database.
Reference Button�Experience Base
Clicking Experience will bring up an Excel file containing a list of significant measurements with their high and low values for each one, along with the mission.
Reference Button�Experience Base
Applicable LCC, high and low data point and associated mission number is kept in the experience base spreadsheet
Reference Button�Constraints
The Constraints button will execute the Constraints program, the use of the Constraints program is covered here:
FD Constraints
Constraints can be executed by right clicking on any FD from Display or Strip Chart, or from the Reference button on DataStreams
If executed from Display or Strip Chart the appropriate FD will be set
If executed from Display or Strip Chart the appropriate format and sample rate will be set. All formats can be displayed in the drop down.
If the format cannot be determined, or if the FD is not in the current format it will be noted
FD Constraints
Select an LCC and click the LCC or Red Line Doc button to view the on line document
Click one of these three boxes to view general LCC information
Select an OMRS from File II or File V to view, then click button and the document will open
FD Constraints
To assist in finding the appropriate FD a filter can be used on the nomenclature
After clicking the Filter button only those FD with the filter appearing in the nomenclature will be listed
Reference Button�BLOC Web Page
The BLOC Web page will call the BLOC web page which contains useful information and links.
Reference Button�Using Log Reader
To use the log reader, first click “File”, then “Auto Open”
Enter the applicable TCID and indicate if Changed Data program or Excep program was being used
Reference Button�Using Log Reader
The log reader will display the logs produced by the LCCMon, Changed Data (or Excep), and Audio Alert. Whenever a new line is written to any of the logs it will automatically appear in the applicable window of Log Reader.
The windows are color coded, Red for LCCMon
Blue for Changed Data (or Excep)
Green for Audio Alert
Reference Button�Using Log Reader
Log Reader has many options which can be tailored by clicking on “Edit” then “Options”
The audible sound when a new line has been added can be turned on or off, and PC Speaker (no volume control adjust) or Stereo Speakers (volume control adjustable) can be selected.
If Auto Maximize is turned on the window can be minimized, and when a new line is added to any log the applicable window will auto maximize. With Auto Maximize Snooze turned on the window will not cause an auto maximize for the specified time period. However if a line is added to a different log file during the snooze time the program will auto maximize.
Reference Button �Data Retrieval InterNRT
InterNRT is a prompt driven console application used to retrieve tabular data from the NRT data on the data server.
Internrt is accessed from DataStreams through the reference button
The first prompt asks for the TCID indicating a default response. For another TCID, enter the TCID and press Enter.
The MSID is prompted, if “EXIT” is entered or if the Enter button is pressed the program will terminate.
The program then asks for a start and stop time. Times are given in JJJ:HH:MM:SS format where JJJ is julian day, HH is GMT hour, MM and SS are minutes and seconds.
Enter a MSID and press Enter.
The output from this program is tabular listing in a text file located in the C:\comps folder. The name of the file is the msid followed by “.txt”. This will overwrite any file with that name without prompting
The program will cycle back to asking for another MSID, to terminate press the Enter.
Data Retrieval�Near Real Time
Data can be retrieved from the BLOC Near Real Time (NRT) data stored on the BLOC server, or from the Shuttle Data Center using Data analysis and Presentation (DAP) applications. In either case the data can be retrieved in tabular or in strip chart format.
In order to execute a Strip Chart in NRT mode go to C:\comps\Strip_Chart folder and open a specific Chart.
A dialog box asking for the mode (NRT or Real Time) is presented. Check NRT for Near Real Time and enter the TCID.
A dialog box asking for the time then appears, enter the time and select OK.
The Strip Chart will then open.
Data Retrieval�Data Analysis and Presentation (DAP) �
Data Analysis and Presentation tools link is provided in the C:\Favorites\KSC folder on the BLOC PCs or by using the following link.
The most useful tools are the DAP204 General Tool Suite and DAP134 LDB/ Uplink Retrieval
Click on DAP 204 then click Execute to run the application
Fill in the necessary data and click Execute.
Choose how you would like the data displayed.
To use DAP 134 click on it , then select Execute.
Fill in the necessary data and click Execute.
The data is then outputted in a tabular form.
The BLOC personnel can assist with using these tools for any data request.
OmrsView
OmrsView is executed from the Reference Utilities of DataStreams
Enter the requirement if known,
Else press enter and use the “List” feature to find the appropriate requirment.
OmrsView
The requirment will appear in a notepad style window with print, copy and find features.
The print feature will set the printer to landscape mode and use an appropriate font size for the paper.
OmrsView
Change the requirement displayed by using the File, New commands.
This will bring up the dialogue box to enter the requirement ID
OmrsView
If the requirement ID is not known use the File, List option to aid in finding the appropriate requirement.
OmrsView
The list feature will present the list of all File II Vol 1 and File V Vol 1 requirments.
The Filter option can be used to filter the requirements displayed to only those requirements with the filter in the description.
OmrsView
To use the copy feature highlight the lines to be copied, then select Edit, Copy or press Ctrl-C.
The section can then be pasted into Notepad or other documents.
Live Simulator
The Live Simulator program can be executed from the Live Sim icon as shown
The program is controlled from the following dialogue box
All available TCIDs will be shown in the drop down box
After selecting a TCID all Near Real Time (NRT) files will be available using the browse button
The “Use Playback Gateway” box is defaulted. By using this the displays will show “Playback” in the upper right corner.
Live Simulator
NRT files are recorded byte swapped, by selecting “PCGOAL2 format” the stream will un-byte swap, and calculate the checksum required for PCGOAL2.
If PCG Playback 3 is selected an appropriate IP address and data stream will be used (DS = 14, IP = 230.77.38.65). The stream will show up as Playback 3 on PCGoal.
If BLOC is selected an appropriate IP address and data stream will be used (DS=106, IP=230.77.39.106). The stream will show up as data stream 106 on DataStreams program.
Live Simulator
This dialogue box will be shown when LiveSim is executing
Greenwich Mean Time
Count Down Time
File being played back. When the end of file is reached the program will automatically begins the next sequential file
The speed of playback can be adjusted from 1 (real time) to 10. This can be adjusted at any time.
The byte counter displays the number of bytes played since the start of LiveSim
Displays the multicast IP address being used.
The stream being output with simulated data can be recorded, this can be played back later. The output is defaulted to “livesimrecord.dat”
The stream being output with simulated data can be recorded, this can be played back later. The user is prompted for a file name. Files will be written sequentially with a “.sim” suffix
The program can jump almost instantaneously to a new GMT using the NRT index file.
The program can be paused and resumed
See next slide
Live Simulator
The “Modify Meas” button from the previous dialogue box will bring up this dialogue box
The dialogue box is in two halves. The top half contains all FDs and is used to select an FD, specify the rate of change and the final value. This information is entered into the bottom half when the “Add Mod” button or “Activate” button is clicked.
The bottom half contains all FDs entered from the top. This is used to activate and reset the modifications. The modification is not started until the “Waiting for Activate” check box is deselected.
Script files and Special Tests are discussed on the following slide
Live Simulator
Blank lines may be put into the script file in any location. Remarks can be put on separate lines and marked with either "rem", "REM" or "//" starting in the first column anything else will be interpreted as a command in the format:
timeType triggerTime command fd finalval slope transtime
The time type may be either CDT or GMT.
The triggerTime is specified as HH:MM:SS.mmm.
The command can be add, reset, resetall, glscutoff, transient, freeze or noise.
The fd is specified using either 9 or 10 characters.
The finalval is specified in engineering units
The slope is specified in units per second
The transtime (for transients) is specified in milliseconds
Live Simulator
Every command in the script file should have timetype, triggertime and command
add should also have fd, finalval and slope (6 parameters)
reset should also have fd (4 parameters)
resetall needs no more info (3 parameters)
glscutoff needs no more info (3 parameters)
transient should also have fd, finalval, slope and transtime (7 parameters) (slope is not used but a value is required)
freeze should also have fd (4 parameters)
noise should also have fd, nominal value and a variance both in engineering units (6 parameters)
Live Simulator
A “Special Test” script is similar to a testing script, but it does not include a “Time Type” all times are in relative seconds from the time the script is executed. All other parameters are the same.
Live Simulator
A special modification called cutoff is allowed in a script file. When this modification is encountered the program will open a script file “cutoff.txt” and execute the script immediately. The cutoff.txt file has no time type or time parameters defined.
THE END
If you have any questions or if you would like to practice operating BLOC software, feel free to contact Roland LeBon in the BLOC at 7-1871.
End