NASA Space Shuttle Processing Status 18 Mar 2004

The Space Shuttle fleet is housed and processed at NASA’s
Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Fla. The order Shuttles are listed
in the weekly status report does not necessarily reflect the
chronological order of future missions.

Discovery (OV-103)

Discovery processing milestones continue to be achieved in
preparation for the first Return to Flight mission, designated
STS-114. The No. 2 Rudder Speed Brake actuator was sent back to
the vendor for refurbishment and to have the gears placed into
the proper orientation. It will be returned to KSC in about six
weeks for reinstallation on the vehicle.

Following a successful fit check; the Body Flap was installed
on March 12. The first Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) panel was
installed on the left-hand leading edge of the wing on Monday.
On Sunday, Discovery began a two-week power-down period to
perform orbiter electrical wiring inspections and hi-potential
voltage testing.

Atlantis (OV-104)

In the processing facility, technicians continue to prepare
Atlantis for a mission to the International Space Station.
Preparations continue to remove the Rudder Speed Brake
actuators.

Thirteen T-seals, the C-shaped seals that fit between each RCC
panel, have been installed on the left-hand wing leading edge.
Build-up of the right-hand RCC panels and associated fittings
is ongoing.

Endeavour (OV-105)

Endeavour is in its Orbiter Major Modification (OMM) period,
which began in December 2003. Structural and wire inspections
associated with OMM continue in the midbody and aft.

Nineteen left-hand and all 22 right-hand RCC panels have been
removed from the vehicle and returned to the vendor for
inspection. Of the 44 RCC panels on Endeavour, technicians have
completed the thermography and engineering analysis of 20
panels.