Status Report

NASA Space Shuttle Processing Status 26 August 2005

By SpaceRef Editor
August 26, 2005
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Discovery (OV-103)

Mission: STS-121 – 18th ISS Flight (ULF1)
Payload: Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3
Launch Date: NET March 2006
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Following Discovery’s return to Kennedy Sunday, the vehicle was rolled into Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3 to begin processing for the second Space Shuttle Return to Flight test mission (STS-121).

The orbiter was placed on its jacks, and work stands were installed around the vehicle. Obiter window inspections are complete and protective covers installed. The payload bay doors were opened on Wednesday.

Atlantis (OV-104)

Mission: STS-115 – 19th ISS Flight (12A)
Payload: P3/P4 Solar Arrays
Location: Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB)
Launch Date: TBD
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean, Stefanyshyn-Piper
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Atlantis is in the VAB attached to its External Tank (ET-120) and Solid Rocket Boosters. Preparations are under way to demate Atlantis from its ET. Atlantis will be lowered next week into the transfer aisle and rolled back to Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1 in early September. ET-120, the first redesigned tank to arrive at KSC, will be sent back to the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans for further testing.

In the VAB, the Solid Rocket Boosters will be destacked and sent back to ATK Thiokol in Utah for refurbishment. In December, the booster segments will reach the end of the time allowable for segments to be stacked prior to launch. A new booster stack will be built for Atlantis’ launch.

Endeavour (OV-105)

Endeavour is in its Orbiter Major Modification period, which began in December 2003.

External Tank

External Tank 119, the third redesigned tank to arrive at Kennedy, was moved from the checkout cell in the VAB. It was loaded onto Pegasus, NASA’s specially designed barge, on Tuesday for transport to Michoud. The tank is being returned for evaluation, inspection and redesign prior to STS-121.

SpaceRef staff editor.