NASA Space Shuttle Processing Status 22 April 2005
Discovery (OV-103)
Mission: STS-114 – 17th ISS Flight (LF1) – Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Launch Pad 39B
Launch Date: Launch Planning Window: May 22 – June 3, 2005
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Collins, Kelly, Noguchi, Robinson, Thomas, Lawrence and Camarda
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
On Wednesday, following the Space Shuttle Program’s Design Certification Review (DCR) the previous day, senior management identified May 22 as the target launch date for STS-114 in the May 15 – June 3 launch window. This will allow additional time to complete the required engineering analysis, validation and verification testing of the Shuttle for a safe Return to Flight.
Work continues at Launch Pad 39B for Discovery’s launch to the International Space Station (ISS). The payload bay doors were opened Tuesday and the Remote Manipulator System, or Shuttle arm, and the Orbiter Boom Sensor System clearance checks are complete. Flight readiness tests have been successfully performed on all three Space Shuttle Main Engines.
This weekend, technicians will finalize work to prepare for loading the hypergolic propellants for flight. This process includes loading the propellants, monomethyl hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide, into the Orbiter Maneuvering System and the Forward Reaction Control System. On April 28, the Rotating Service Structure will be rotated away from the vehicle in preparation for hot-fire tests of the Auxiliary Power Units on Discovery and the right-hand Solid Rocket Booster Hydraulic Power Unit.
Two of the payloads that will travel to the ISS were installed into the Payload Transportation Canister this week in preparation for their move to Launch Pad 39B. The External Stowage Platform-2 (ESP-2) was installed on Tuesday and the Lightweight Multi-Purpose Experiment Support Structure Carrier (LMC) was installed on Wednesday. The ESP-2 will carry replacement parts to the Station and will be deployed and attached to the Station’s airlock as a permanent spare-parts facility. The LMC will carry a replacement Control Moment Gyroscope and a tile repair sample test kit. The Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Raffaello is scheduled to be installed on Monday, with transfer to the pad scheduled to occur at the end of next week.
Mission: STS-121 – 18th ISS Flight (ULF1) – Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1
Launch Date: Launch Planning Window: July 12 – July 31, 2005
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak and Wilson
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
Technicians continue processing Atlantis in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1 for its mission, designated STS-121, to the International Space Station. On Thursday, the STS-121 crew arrived at Kennedy Space Center for the Crew Equipment Interface Test. The test provides the crew an opportunity to get a hands-on look at the orbiter and equipment they will be working with on the mission.
Orbiter system testing is nearly 60 percent complete. Technicians finished installing the engines’ dome-mounted heat shields, the two semi-circled-shaped sections of Thermal Protection System tile that fit around the engine interfaces. The interface verification test continues on the right-hand Orbiter Maneuvering System pod. Following the installation of the new landing gear door thermal barrier seal, the nose landing gear was retracted for seal compression checks.
Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) stacking for Atlantis’ launch continues in the VAB high bay 3. The External Tank remains in the checkout cell for final testing. Following the completion of SRB stacking, the tank will be moved and attached to the SRBs on May 6.
Endeavour (OV-105)
Endeavour is in its Orbiter Major Modification period, which began in December 2003.
Previous Space Shuttle processing status reports are available on the Internet at:
