scope:

Abstract:

One of the most difficult obstacles to overcome in resolving the problem of the cracks found in the flowliners at the gimbal joint of the LH2 feedlines of the Orbiter fleet has been the disparity of the propellant feed systems between the ground-based test facility and the flight vehicle. Ground testing should be conducted in as close to flight configuration as possible. Where differences between ground and flight configurations or environments are necessary, every effort to correlate the ground test data to actual flight situations must be made.