Status Report

NASA Space Shuttle Processing Status 25 February 2005

By SpaceRef Editor
February 28, 2005
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Mission: STS-114 – 17th ISS Flight (LF1) – Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3
Launch Date: Launch Planning Window May 15 – June 3, 2005
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Collins, Kelly, Noguchi, Robinson, Thomas, Lawrence and Camarda
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

In Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3, orbiter system testing is 96 percent complete on Discovery for its mission, designated STS-114, to the International Space Station. Final work and closeouts are progressing well in preparation for Discovery’s roll over to the Vehicle Assembly Building mid-March.

The payload bay doors are scheduled to be closed on Monday for installation of a few remaining door-hinge carrier panels. The payload bay doors will then be opened to verify correct placement of the carrier panels. Once this is complete, the payload bay doors will be closed the final time next week for flight. Work continues on seal installation on the main and nose landing-gear doors, and will be followed by functional tests to ensure the proper compression of the doors.

In the Vehicle Assembly Building, paint and cork repairs are complete on the Solid Rocket Boosters’ (SRBs) aft inactive stub ring, an attach ring surrounding the booster located about 10 feet below the External Tank (ET) attach point. The ET is scheduled to be moved from the checkout cell to the integration cell and mated, or attached, to the twin SRBs on Monday.

Mission: STS-121 – 18th ISS Flight (ULF1) – Multi-Purpose Logistics Module/Crew Rotation
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 to process Atlantis in Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) bay 1 for its mission, designated STS-121, to the International Space Station. Powered-up system testing continues with water coolant loop No. 1 servicing and No.2 deservicing, fuel cell leak checks, as well as Global Positioning System and orbiter docking system testing.

The Remote Manipulator System, or Space Shuttle arm, was delivered to the bay Thursday for installation into Atlantis’ payload bay this weekend. The Forward Reaction Control System was installed on the vehicle Monday, and work continues on bolt installations. Rudder Speed Brake installation is nearly complete, while seal installation and Thermal Protection System blanket bonding on the vertical stabilizer is ongoing.

Endeavour (OV-105)

On Tuesday, orbiter Endeavour moved from the OPF to the Florida Space Authority’s Reusable Launch Vehicle hangar at Kennedy Space Center. While in the hangar, Endeavour will be tested to see how orbiters respond to a new radar system that will be used to detect debris during launch. In the OPF, work includes modifications to the bay and platform validation. Endeavour will remain in the hangar for approximately 30 days, then return to the OPF.

SpaceRef staff editor.