Status Report

Space Shuttle Processing Status 5 Apr 2002

By SpaceRef Editor
April 5, 2002
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MISSION: STS-110 – 13th ISS Flight (8A) – ITS S0 TRUSS AND MOBILE TRANSPORTER

VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104

KSC LAUNCH DATE: Monday, April 8, 2002

LAUNCH TIME PERIOD: 2 -6 p.m. EDT

MISSION DURATION: 11 days

CREW: Bloomfield, Frick, Ross, Smith, Ochoa, Morin, Walheim

ORBITAL INSERTION ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 122 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

Shuttle Processing Note: Following an assessment of the scope of work to be
accomplished, the Shuttle Mission Management Team has made the decision to
re-schedule the launch of Shuttle Atlantis to Monday, April 8 on the STS-110
mission to the International Space Station.

At Pad B, the hydrogen vent line that caused Thursday’s scrub has been
drained and purged with helium, and a welding team arrived at the site late
this morning to begin the repair — by welding a two – piece aluminum clam
shell sleeve, about 10 inches wide, around the 16-inch diameter line. The
welding operation is expected to take about 12 to 16 hours, with welders
working three shifts through early Saturday After the welding work is
completed, a series of validation tests will be conducted, including
pressure leak checks, the application of a cold shock to the finished weld
and a dye penetrant inspection.

The launch team is preparing Atlantis for the recycle turnaround to meet the
countdown requirements for a Monday launch. Top-off of the on – board fuel
cell reactants is scheduled for Saturday night. On Sunday night, the
Rotating Service Structure will be moved to the parked position to prepare
for External Tank propellant loading on launch morning.

The seven STS-110 crewmembers will remain at KSC over the weekend and will
continue their final preparation for the flight.

The Solid Rocket Booster Retrieval Ships, Freedom Star and Liberty Star,
returned to their berths at Cape Canaveral last night and will be ready to
depart to the recovery site again on Sunday.

The forecast looks favorable on Monday, with only a 10% probability of
weather prohibiting the launch. The temperature will be 75 degrees, relative
humidity 79 percent, with winds from the southeast at 12 to 18 knots. In the
booster recovery area, the ships will be operating in 6-7 foot seas with
winds from the east – southeast at 10 to 17 knots and a sea temperature of
76 degrees.

SpaceRef staff editor.