NASA Space Shuttle Processing Status Report 12 December 2006

Note: NASA’s Kennedy Space Center issues Space Shuttle Processing Status Reports periodically and is the source for information regarding processing activities associated with the vehicles and payloads. If you are a member of the media and would like further information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/index.html

Mission: STS-116 – 20th International Space Station Flight (12A.1) – P5 Truss Segment
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: On Orbit
Landing Date: Dec. 21 at 3:36 p.m.
Crew: Polansky, Oefelein, Curbeam, Higginbotham, Patrick, Fuglesang and Williams
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

The Space Shuttle Discovery and its seven-member crew lifted off Saturday, Dec. 9, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 8:47 p.m. EST. Low clouds delayed Discovery’s launch on Thursday night. After standing down on Friday, weather was much better for Saturday’s launch.

Following the launch, technicians performed a walkdown of Launch Pad 39B to assess damage of the pad structures and mobile launcher platform, and to look for any foreign object debris from the shuttle. The walkdown revealed no significant damage or problems, and the pad was in excellent condition.

The two solid rocket booster recovery ships that are deployed prior to each launch returned today to Hangar AF at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Workers have begun offloading the boosters and disassembling them to begin the refurbishment process.