NASA Space Shuttle Processing Status Report 2 February 2007

Note: NASA’s Kennedy Space Center issues Space Shuttle Processing Status Reports periodically and is the source for information regarding processing activities associated with the vehicles and payloads. If you are a member of the media and would like further information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/index.html

Mission: STS-117 – 21st International Space Station Flight (13A) – S3/S4 Truss Segment Solar Arrays
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1
Launch Date: Targeted for March 15, 2007
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Sturckow, Archambault, Reilly, Swanson, Forrester and Olivas
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

During the Space Shuttle Program’s orbiter rollout milestone review today, managers determined that the vehicle was ready to rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building next week on Feb. 7. In Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1, final vehicle closeouts are under way and early this week Atlantis was powered down for rollover.

Final tire pressure checks for flight have been completed, and the landing-gear strut pressurization for flight is complete. The forward compartment is closed out, with the crew hatch closed for rollover. The left and right T-0 umbilical disconnects are complete. Aft structural leak tests were successfully completed, and later today, technicians will perform the final weight and center-of-gravity measurements on the vehicle. The orbiter transporter system will be brought into the bay this weekend.

In the Vehicle Assembly Building, technicians are completing the final closeout operations on the external tank and solid rocket boosters in preparation for attaching the orbiter on Feb. 7.

At Pad A, the rotating service structure was successfully rotated from mate to park position, and pad system validations are under way.

Mission: STS-118 – 22nd International Space Station Flight (13A.1) – S5 Truss Segment
Vehicle: Endeavour (OV-105)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2
Launch Date: Targeted for June 28, 2007
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Kelly, Hobaugh, Williams, Morgan, Mastracchio, Caldwell and Anderson
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Endeavour remains in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2, and technicians continue preparing the vehicle for its first launch in just over four years. The vehicle has undergone an extensive modification period, including the addition of all of the return-to-flight safety upgrades added to both Discovery and Atlantis.

This week, technicians installed the right-hand orbital maneuvering system pod, which provides thrust while the vehicle is on orbit. OMS pod verification tests are now under way. With both OMS pods on board, all of Endeavour’s major flight components are now installed for flight. The forward reaction control system heater tests and vernier thruster inspections were completed this week, and the air data probe functional test is complete. The payload hardware components are being installed in the midbody, which will configure Endeavour to receive the S5 truss segment.